The National Bee Keepers Association has expressed worry over what they termed as “lukewarm attention” towards the agriculture sub-sector.

According to them, the situation has compelled most beekeepers as well as other players in the value chain to foldup.

Consequently, the association has demanded more attention and support from government and other stakeholders to maximise the benefits of the beekeeping sector.

Richard Oko, founder and president of the Association, speaking to Joy News at the Bono East regional town of Nkoranza, expressed displeasure about the dwindling fortunes of the beekeeping industry.

He said although beekeeping had more advantages over most of the other forms of farming in the agriculture sub-sector, it has been relegated over the years.

Mr Oko, therefore, called for massive support to aid whip up the interest of young people in the sector since it generated more and quicker income.

According to him, beekeeping was very simple and less costly, explaining that apart from its preparatory stage, there was no feeding, yet the bees produce their honey.

“What we do is to train smallholder farmers to integrate beekeeping into crop farming to increase pollination services and also to increase crop productivity.

“We are investor-ready now, anyone who wants to help us, support us and invest in us to do the business is warmly welcomed,” he emphasised.  

The National Bee Hive Trainer, Albert Afrifah, noted that honey had several medicinal values and it was the best replacement for sugar. He stressed more needed to be done to encourage people to venture into beekeeping.

“We needed assistance from government or Non-Governmental Organisations to train and equip the youth for beekeeping and this could reduce the constant irregular migration in the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo regions”.

The National Bee Keepers Association was established 20 years ago and can now boast of over 5,000 membership across Ghana and 1,500 members around Nkoranza.