The Ministry for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries [MAAIF] has launched a campaign dubbed-Save The Bees Campaign-Uganda whose main aim is to fight for the conservation and promotion of beekeeping in the country.
The campaign themed; ‘No Bees, No Food, No Future’ is being spearheaded by State minister for Animal husbandry Lt. Col. Bright Rwamirama [patron] who launched the campaign while officiating at the National Celebrations to Mark the World Bee Day at NARO headquarters in Kawanda.
“Bees are not merely insects but are life sustaining partners in our ecosystem. Without bees, our food diversity and livelihood would be compromised. Without bees, we cannot talk of agricultural production and productivity” Rwamirama said.
He however, noted that in spite of the role the bees play in our food security, this critical resource is under threat due to indiscriminate agrochemical use by farmers, diminishing habitats, climate change, and wild fires among other human errors.
The minister said as a ministry, it recognizes the role bees and other pollinators play in ensuring food security. He said the Save The Bees Campaign Uganda, aims to position Uganda as the leading protector of the pollinators on the African continent.
“We envisage a future where Uganda honey becomes a prominent and export commodity like coffee and beyond. We are looking at penetrating the Middle East for our honey because we have huge numbers interested in Ugandan organic honey” he said, explaining that the Middle East is mainly interested in honey from forests and mountains which he said Uganda has abundantly.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner Entomology Dr. Maxwell Onapa Otim, emphasized the role played by bees saying bees contribute to our good health, economy and environment.
“Bees contribute to our nourishment in different ways. Every day they move from flower to flower pollinating our plants to bear fruits which we consume for better health. Without bees, it would lead to malnutrition, high food prices etcetera. Bees provide lots of other medicinal properties. Economically, Uganda does a lot of trading in honey and honey products” he said.
He said that because government recognizes the bee as a beneficial insect, it is the reason this insect was prioritized for promotion under the [USD347.5m] Uganda Climate-Smart Agricultural Transformation Project [UCSATP].
“We look at bees very seriously because we want to produce seed for our farmers, support conservation and honey production” he said.
The Commissioner encouraged the public to support bee protection by planting plants in their gardens, be mindful of use on the use of pesticides/herbicides because these are causing problems to the bees and are reducing on their numbers. He also urged the public to plant trees in their homes, advising that bees need to be viewed not only as pollinators but also as nourishers of our health and promoting the environment.
Addressing the function, Bee activists noted that these resources are under threat, citing pesticide use, climate change, wild fires, development and construction as the main contributors to this threatening situation.
Herbert Mugisha, a bee farmer/activist from a local organization-GREEN CANE INNOVATIONS based in Kisoro, commended the UN for designating May 20th as a day to commemorate the World Bee Day. He hailed the launch of the Save The Bee Campaign Uganda, saying this will go a long way in protecting the country’s pollinators.
“Across Uganda, we’re seeing a sharp increase in bee invasions in markets, hospitals, courts, schools and homes. It is our human errors forcing them to find shelter in roofs, schools, hospitals, markets. [Unfortunately], when they come, we respond with panic. Instead of alerting entomologists, we call fumigators who exterminate them” he noted, adding that as activists, they want a ban on bee fumigation in all public places in addition to arrest of every fumigator found spraying bees.
He explained that under the launched campaign, there are going to be [bees] rescue units across the country whose work will be to conserve endangered colonies and also relocate colonies to safer places.
“Very soon, we’re going to see bee ambulances on the road evacuating bees to safer places” he said. The World Bee Day was celebrated under the theme ‘Be Inspired By Nature To Nourish Us All’, and that it brought together various exhibitors in honey and honey products from across the country.
During the ceremony, bee experts showed tactics of how to deal with bees in a friendly and calm manner during invasion without fumigating them.
