By Stanley Onyekwere
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has reiterated the commitment of the FCT Administration to providing the much needed support towards the growth of the apiculture otherwise known as beekeeping business in the Territory.
He made this declaration recently, while addressing delegates to the 6th edition of the APIExpo Africa international conference and exhibition on beekeeping which took place in the nation’s capital city.
Represented by his chief of staff Alhaji Muhammad Bashir Mai-Bornu, the Minister acknowledged the importance of bees in improving biodiversity and increasing food production through pollination.
According to him, the FCT Administration through the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS) has been working closely with all relevant stakeholders especially the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to create the enabling the enabling environment for bee farmers to operate in the FCT.
He adds: “The intervention of the FCT Administration particularly in the area of capacity building an supply of inputs have proven to be effective in giving the required boost to activities of the well over 6,000 bee farmers in the FCT.”
He called on bee farmers in the FCT to key into the opportunities that the API Expo conference and exhibition will provide in terms of knowledge and exposure to modern technologies that will help increase productivity and incomes of both large and of small scale apiculture businesses.
Also speaking, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh expressed the readiness of the Ministry of Agriculture to support bee-keepers in the provision of necessary inputs in both equipment and loans. While enumerating the huge potentials in the Apiculture business.
Earlier, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha who declared the conference opened expressed confidence that hosting of the conference in Nigeria coupled with enabling environment created by the present Administration will help to accelerate the development of the Apiculture Industry
The 6th ApiExpo Africa 2018 conference and exhibition had the participation of delegates and stakeholders from within Nigeria and from other parts of the world. the 4-day event featured exhibitions, presentations, and training programmes.
