Luanda: Beekeepers in the municipality of Cuemba, located in the province of Bi©, anticipate producing 162,000 liters of honey this year, surpassing last year's total of 145,800 liters.
According to Angola Press News Agency, this forecast was shared by Paulo Afonso Gabel, the director of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries in Cuemba. Gabel highlighted the progress made in the first half of the year, during which beekeepers have already achieved 81,000 liters, marking the halfway point to their annual target.
Gabel noted that the increase in production is largely attributed to the support provided to producers, including essential safety equipment such as gloves, boots, and protective costumes. Additionally, the municipal administration has been proactive in training beekeepers on various aspects of honey production. This training covers the proper installation, population, and feeding of hives, as well as swarm capture, harvesting, processing, and preservation of honey. This year saw the installation of over 20,000 hives, each with the potential to produce approximately 7.5 liters of honey over a six-month period.
The honey production cycle in Cuemba occurs in two phases, with the first phase running from January to May and the second phase concluding in September. Gabel pointed out that restructuring apiaries remains a challenge but is a crucial part of strategies aimed at boosting honey production in the future.
Furthermore, Gabel mentioned that honey from Cuemba is distributed widely, particularly in the provinces along the Lobito and Luanda corridors, with market prices ranging from two to three thousand kwanzas per liter.
