Agric ministry trains farmers on bee colony management, pollination services

By Eloyi Matthew

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), through the Federal Department of Agriculture (FDA), has trained farmers on the management of bee colonies for pollination services, as well as the use of pollination equipment.

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The workshop, which drew 50 participants from Kaduna, Kano and Katsina states, took place in Katsina.

Speaking during the event, the director of the FDA, KarimaI Babangida, represented by Deputy Director, Horticulture, Mrs Omotosho Agbani, said the essence of the training was to raise the awareness of the farmers on the significance of bee pollination in crops yield.

In her words, “Bee pollination aids increase in yield per hectare of strategic cash crops by about 30 per cent annually or growing cycle; example, oil palm, 110 per cent, 225 per cent increase in millet, 60 per cent in soya beans, 100 per cent in citrus, 80 per cent in cocoa, 123 per cent in pepper, 80 per cent in cucumber, etc, as noted by Bargong Farms and USAID market.”

According to her, bees are social insects that play vital roles in proving agricultural productivity, preserving biodiversity, as well as enhancing sustainable livelihoods.

Earlier, the Katsina State coordinator of the FMARD, Sule Muhammad Salisu, said the ministry had trained farmers on the value chain of different crops, bringing them up to speed in modern farming.

He called on the participants to put the knowledge acquired into practice and share it with their colleagues in all the states.

Speaking on behalf of the beekeepers, Malam Salisu Sule called on governments and other donor agencies to continue to assist farmers with new technology and in marketing the product for economic development.

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Some equipment, including a beehive, hive stand, smoker, brush, knife, queen extruder, as well as personal protective gears, were given at subsidized prices to the farmers.