Beehive Manufacturing Busines
‘Beehive Manufacturing Business Pilot Project for
Aspiring Youths’
Sweet abuzz with the drone of the bee industry is much suited to Fiji’s environment, although it is still in the growing and developmental stage. It is therefore not surprising that beekeeping is a traditional farming activity and despite being small, is a thriving one and has progressed well over the last decade.
In order to strengthen and promote the growth and development of the bee industry in Fiji, NCSMED and the Ministry of Youth signed a Memorandum of Understanding and implemented a pilot project to establish a beehive manufacturing business for youths at the Nasau Youth Training Centre (NYTC) in October, 2005.
Five carpentry youths at NYTC were selected and underwent appropriate training in operating a small business of manufacturing quality beehives. The NYTC facilities have been used to provide on-the-job business and technical training for the aspiring youths by NCSMED in association with the JICA Consultant, Mr. Hiroyuki Mizunoe, Mr. Kamal Prasad of the Apiculture Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture, TPAF trainers, Ministry of Youth and FDB. Today, the youths have manufactured quality beehive samples, which open the flood gate for mass production of beehives in the near future.
An important aspect in the current beehive manufacturing project at NYTC is the fact that very good quality beehives are being manufactured by unemployed youths with basic carpentry skills. And what makes this even more interesting is the fact that these quality beehives are 100% locally made with all local materials. This project is a classic example of the potential that exists for social and economic development of youths with the cooperation and support of various government and non-government organistions.
Beekeeping which has a huge growth potential has been barely tapped and one that offers small and micro enterprise development for Fiji’s youth communities. Figures show that 200 tones of honey were harvested last year and the forecast for 2006 is 250 tones, which is still short of the 300 tones demanded annually. The shortfall last year was met through imports from Australia. Honey production presents opportunities for both import substitution and exporting.
Research has found that one of the major limitations faced is the shortage of affordable quality beehives. There are a few beehive manufacturers in Fiji but their production capacity is very limited.
To that end, this pilot project by NCSMED is confident to boost the manufacturing of quality beehives in Fiji to strengthen and promote the growth of the bee industry which will result in creating employment and income generating opportunities for unemployed rural youth and young women. Bee farming is an alternative cash commodity for rural communities and stimulates productivity of natural resources.
The facilitation of this youth project by NCSMED is an initiative to manufacture beehives locally in order to contribute to the growth of the bee keeping industry. The incubator facility at NTYC is set to expand its production capacity and provide trainings to more youths.
In it’s commitment of expanding this pilot project to other institutions, NCSMED via a joint collaboration with the Prisons Department and TPAF has conducted basic skills training on beehive manufacturing for the prisoners at the Naboro and Suva Prison in 2006. NCSMED will facilitate further specialised trainings on manufacturing beehives for the prisoners so that beehive manufacturing can start commercially at the Prisons Beehive Incubator facility.
Discussions and preparations are also underway at CATD in collaboration with TPAF for the conduct of specialised training on beehive manufacturing for youths. The incubator facility will be established after the training and it is anticipated that beehive manufacturing will begin commercially.
The bee industry in Fiji fits well providing diversification in the agricultural production base, supplementation in food production, expansion of income generation opportunity and the possibility of employment and the promotion of private sector development.
(Please see picture gallery for project pictures)