Global demand for honey expected to rise to USD 10, 336 million by 2025 and should prove an incentive for bee keepers in the Solomon Islands to export their honey products.
The bee keeping industry in the Solomon Islands began in the 1990s but it virtually collapsed during the civil conflict which occurred in late 1998 and continued till the intervention of foreign peace keepers in 2003.
It is a pity the bee keeping activities in the country were so greatly curtailed during the 5 years of internal conflict and the return to bee keeping really only got going again relatively recently when the Technical Mission of the Taiwanese Embassy in Honiara introduced a bee keeping project designed to train bee keepers and increase the production and commercial sale of honey
In July this year, Professor Yue wen chen, a specialist on bee keeping from Taiwan, travelled Honiara and then visited the Western Province, Malaita and Guadalcanal where he met with local bee keepers and gave some instruction to further develop the skills acquired by technical officers from the Taiwanese Embassy.
Professor Yue-wen chen said during his stay that the Solomons had some of the best honey bees in the world but improvements could be made to increase hives and production to allow the Solomon Islands make money from the commercial aspect of bee keeping.
I would encourage what the Professor had to say because the latest market research indicates that the global honey market will reach USD 10,336 million by 2025.
Growing consumer preferences for a healthy and natural alternative over artificial sweeteners and the increasing awareness about the benefits of honey are majorly driving the global honey market growth.
With improvements to be made to infrastructure in the Solomon Islands and better transportation links that exist already, in terms of having two international airports and a major port facility, the potential for honey exports can only get better and in turn aid the economy and rural bee keepers livelihoods.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
