Shema Aimable is an official member of the National Council for the Development of Agricultural Exports in Rwanda (NAEB), responsible for livestock products for export. He led a country delegation representing members of the multiparty beekeeper platform in Rwanda (RAMP) of the just-concluded sixth ApiExpo Africa, Abuja, to demonstrate and demonstrate how the honey industry is sold in Rwanda. In this exclusive interview with the Daily Trust on Sunday during the event, he shared a tour of the district beekeeping.
How would you describe the presence of Rwanda in ApiExpo?
I am here with three business companies processing honey from Rwanda: Apiary, ABDC and Voice of Calling. As a government, we also supported them to come to show others what we are doing and also see what others are doing so that we can learn more.
How does a Rwanda bear do internationally?
Beekeeping in Rwanda has been practiced for many years in traditional ways. But you know that in 1994 we had a genocide, but after that the government tried to work out a policy to strengthen most sectors, especially agriculture. In this regard, Rwanda has introduced a policy of beekeeping, and more recently, standards of beekeeping.
Three Rwandan companies here are certified to sell honey to Europe and Asia. We did this to try to put all the producers on the same platform, the Rwanda’s beekeeping platform with several plots.
Until now, the farmers were scattered, and we thought it reasonable that in order to help them have a stronger voice, coordinated actions and control of standards, we decided to put them on one platform. Through this platform, they can get outreach. And they can easily get support from the government in terms of training, technical assistance, grants or financial assistance. This is how we were able to organize and monitor value creation activities.
Rwanda hosted one of the editions of this event; How would you describe the impact of the event on the country's beekeeping industry?
To host ApiExpo just bidding. We performed in Harare, Zimbabwe, and succeeded.
In 2016, we spent it and saw its positive effect. After this event, more companies invested in the industry.
In fact, at the moment we have almost 10 companies certified to export honey to Europe and other parts of the world. I hope you know that Rwanda is one of the few countries that are allowed to export honey to Europe? You cannot go there if your honey is not certified. Currently, certified companies and the number of clients abroad – Europe and Asia – are also increasing.
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