Lira beekeepers form cooperative to boost honey production
LIRA– Beekeepers in Ngetta ward in Lira City East Division are reaping fruits after forming a cooperative society that enables them to speak with one voice as they market their honey and related products.
Trained Apiary Farmers [TAF] Agro Cooperative Society, according to Tom Anyii, the chairperson, was formed two years ago to address the high demand for honey and its products.
The cooperative has 45 fully registered members and according to Anyii, they have trained over 3,000 members in Lango, Acholi, and Karamoja sub-regions in beekeeping, identification of apiary sites, honey harvesting, marketing, and postharvest handling.
Speaking recently at Telela village, in Ngetta ward, Anyii said to boost production, the cooperative trains and offers beehives and beekeeping manuals to the trainees.
“Our target is to boost the production of honey, improve household income and handle people`s negative mindset on beekeeping,” Anyi said.
He said they have so far constructed a honey factory, established a training centre, and are making beehives.
“Apart from the youth who dropped out of school, graduates, we are also imparting skills to students from schools and tertiary institutions, “he added.
Walter Akangi, Lawrence Akano from Ogur Sub-county, Lira district including Olara Geoffrey from Agago district are among the youth who were recently trained on beekeeping as a business and are putting into practice what they learned.
Immaculate Abeja, who has a diploma in agriculture, and Acio Rebecca, with a diploma [Record keeping and information management], have also set up an apiary at their home in Apuce Subcounty, Lira after they attained training from the cooperatives.
Joseph Ogwal a father to Acio and Abeja said his girls are not looking for jobs because of the training offered by the cooperative. “Instead they are creating employment for other youth,” he said.
https://thecooperator.news/lira-bee-farmers-asked-to-form-saccos-to-benefit-from-pdm/
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