The North West Region produces an estimated 40 tons of good quality honey per year but according to bee farmers, buyers pay very low prices for the product and the market is still made up of neighbours and friends.
For Bee wax, farmers say there is no market for the product in the country because Cameroonians do not have any use for it except candle making which is not yet a flourishing business in the country.
“There is no market for bee wax in Cameroon and for that reason, farmers were reluctant to produce the bee wax and so they threw it away even though the bee wax is more costly than honey. Now, farmers will no more throw it away and will make more income,” says Ngwainbi Simon, President of the North West Bee Farmers’ House and Coordinator of BERUDA (Rural Development Authority), Belo in Boyo Division
But the Honey Show organised by the North West Farmers’ House in collaboration with Belo Rural Development Authority (BERUDA) which brought together farmers from the North West, South West and West Regions also brought in buyers ready to buy all the available produce on a regular basis.
The buyers from Cameroon and the US both claimed the quantities of the products produced in the North West Region, though of good quality were not sufficient to meet the quantities demanded. They urged North West Beekeepers to produce more of the good quality produce so that they can make more income.
All the wax estimated at 400 kg available during the Show was bought and farmers promised to supply all the honey they still had at home estimated at 1000 litres. The farmers have seen this as an opportunity for them to work harder knowing that there is a ready market for their produce.
Meanwhile, Musongong Josephine of the Bamendankwe Rural Development Women Association won the first prize for her honey. The International Judge from the UK, Bernard Diaper after testing found Josephine’s honey to have 20 % water content, well packaged and had very attractive flavour. Good quality honey must not have more than 20% water content and must be attractive and good flavour.
Diaper promised to take samples of the first two winners to the UK and exhibit in an international Honey Show. He also promised to test the honey to see that it meets International standards so that the farmers can be given certificates to be able to sell their honey in European and other markets the world over.
“Another thing that is happening is that we just held a meeting with the international judge and he wants to collect the honey from the first and the second winners and exhibit it internationally and certificates will be given to
