The Agriculture Ministry has noted an increase in the interest of people towards the apiculture industry.

While closing the five day training on apiculture for agricultural officers in Tailevu, Permanent Secretary, Jitendra Singh says the industry has a huge potential in the future.

“That is why we has sort an increase in the coming financial year so we want to strengthen this programme so this training is coming at a very good time whereby we have equipped you our staff to go and training the people in the receiving end who want to engage in bee keeping and the production of honey basically.”

Singh says the ministry is working to increase more funds to cater for apiculture farmers.

Around one thousand farmers are involved in this industry with over 10,000 bee hives producing more than 200 tonnes of honey annually.