Regional News of Tuesday, 11 April 2006

Source: GNA

Nkoranza farmers can't get markets for their honey

Nkoranza (B/A), April 11, GNA - The Nkoranza District Bee Keeping Association has produced a large quantity of honey but cannot find market for the produce.

Mr Michael Sarpong, Secretary of the Association who disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency said the farmers were faced with a similar problem last year and were compelled to retail the produce, which did not help them.

A number of farmers at Nkoranza have diversified and added bee keeping to their farming activities in cash crops such as maize, groundnuts, yam, vegetables and watermelon. Many farmers at Bonsu, Akonkonti, Busunya, Kranka, Dotobaa, Baabiana, Manso, Pinihe, Nkwabeng have shown interest in the bee-keeping activity.

Mr Sarpong appealed to the government to establish a purchasing company to deal with the marketing of the produce to whip up interest, especially among the unemployed youth. Meanwhile pharmaceutical companies have been urged to avail themselves of the opportunity and purchase the produce for the manufacture of drugs.