Masvingo beekeepers bask in glory

SAMUEL NJINGA IN MASVINGO

Beekeepers in Mashate district, Masvingo Province are basking in glory after their Njovo bee project is bearing fruit, Business Times can report.

Speaking during a visit by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga last week, the chairperson of the Aquaculture artillery project, Modrick Taruvinga, said they got donation of 40 bee hives from Aquaculture and 20 from Allied Timbers.

“Out of these 60 bee hives, 27 now have lots of honey. So far we harvested 60kgs of honey from only  five bee hives,” Taruvinga said.

“For us, this is an introduction into business considering the foreign currency that we got so far. In  three months` time we are looking forward to yet another bumper honey harvest as we will be harvesting from the other 22 bee hives that are already packed with honey. We are looking forward to having around 200 bee hives very soon.

Sitting on a 4.5hactares of land with over 300 banana plants, the Njovo bee hive project is set to be one of the greatest bee projects in the province.

Taruvinga said the purpose of a banana plantation was to ensure that bees have got enough sources of nectar.

He also said plans were underway for the community to grow flowers in the banana plantation so as to boost the sources of nectar for the bees.

A total of 142 villagers are working on this project.

Women at Njovo gardens who are participating in a similar project told Business Times that they were making a killing out of the jungle.

“God is our investor. All we needed was simply to open up our eyes and see an opportunity awaiting us in the forests. We are now able to pay school fees for our children. People are bringing testimony after testimony after receiving healing from this natural herb.”

Research experts have propounded that honey can be used for treating several diseases such as chest pains, asthma, arthritis, back aches, cough and normalises blood among other benefits.

Veteran beekeeper, Michael Hlungwani, who has done beekeeping studies in countries such as Czech  Republic and Ireland, among others said bees play a significant role in facilitating crops to bear fruits.

“Bees help crop flowers to eventually mature into a fruit. Honey also carries what are known as medicinal properties affectionately known as apitherapy.  Some patients may be advised to use it as a substitute for sugar,” he said.

“Bees wax can also be used for making floor polish, wood polish and wax foundation that is used to lure bees into bee hives.”