NGO links Rumphi bee farmers to markets

Find Your Feet has linked 2 500 bee farmers in Rumphi District to buyers in a bid to improve their livelihoods.

Speaking on Wednesday at Rumphi District Council during the monitoring of their activities under the Transforming Agriculture through Diversification and Entrepreneurship (Trade) Programme, the organisation’s project coordinator Chawezi Mukhuta Banda said they have linked many bee farmers to markets.

“Our assessment on bee-keeping in the district showed low production and productivity of the product. So, we trained farmers in bee-keeping, modern harvesting techniques and colonisation for them to satisfy demand,” he said.

One of the farmers, Steven Mughogho from Chimduzi Village, Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe, commended Find Your Feet for linking them to markets.

“Our income has increased from K90 000 to K120 000 per 30 kilogrammes,” he said.

Mughogho also said Malawi Bureau of Standards trained them on how to produce quality honey to meet the buyers’ standards.

On his part, Rumphi District Council director of agriculture, environment and natural resources Lumbani Msiska said they want the project to target more beneficiaries because it is transforming people’s lives.

Find Your Feet is implementing a Bee-keeping for Economic Empowerment in Northern Malawi project under Trade Programme.

Rumphi District Council is one of the 11 districts in the country implementing Trade programme which is under the Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture.