The Enugu Bee Keepers Association (EBKA) says it has concluded plans to sensitise youths in Enugu State to embrace the business of bee keeping and honey making.

President of the association, Dr Uchenna Anikwe, made this known to newsmen on Wednesday in Enugu.

Anikwe said that that statewide sensitisation was part of the association’s plan to catch-them-young and get more youths involved in bee keeping farming and honey production.

According to him, this will ensure that youths tap into the multi-million dollar global honey business.

“We are going on with the statewide sensitisation in the 17 council areas of the state to teach and enlighten the youths on the immense healthy and monetary benefits of honey production through bee keeping.

“There is a whole lot of market for honey both at the local level and at the international market for honey running into several multi-million dollars,” he said.

The EBKA president who is also the Traditional Ruler of Diogbe Community near Nsukka, appealed to the Federal and state governments to assist the association especially youths among them with modern hive equipment to produce large quantity of honey for export.

He noted that the association would keep to its standard of producing high grade and unadulterated honey.

He said that a 75cl bottle of pure honey, especially the popular “Nsukka Grade 1”, was sold for about N4,000 which was costlier than the adulterated one sold below N30,000.

Nutrition experts have over time recommended the use of honey instead of sugar or sweeteners for daily meals.

Honey has also been prescribed by modern and traditional medical practitioners for cure of some diseases such as cough, sore throat, burns and vision problem, among others.

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