The Chairman of the Eastern Highlands Bee Farmers Association has called on the government to channel more money to expand Papua New Guinea’s honey industry.
Jonah Buka, pointed out that while climate change and pests were impacting the lucrative industry, farmers continue to be burdened with high costs and lack of government funding support.
Buka says, Papua New Guinea can meet a portion of the global honey demand of 200 tonnes a year.
Bee farming was introduced to the Eastern Highlands 40 years ago with assistance from the New Zealand Government.
Over the years, the industry suffered as the main honey buyers shut down their businesses.
But small scale honey production has survived four decades on.
The Eastern Highlands has been the honey capital of sorts. Having an association that manages the affairs of bee farmers, and provides representation between government, and private sector.
Association chairman, Jona Buka, says the industry is struggling with very limited support. The only consistent help it has received over 15 years has come from a small team from the Provincial Agriculture Office in Goroka.
