THE honey industry in Zambia is an old occupation, which has sustained the livelihoods of many rural people for several years by providing food and employment.
The industry engages an estimated 20,000 beekeepers country wide and an additional 6000 honey hunters.
The honey industry is capable of contributing to the country’s economic diversification programme by capturing its foreign market and increasing honey exports from current levels of around 640 metric tonnes annually to 1800 metric tonnes.
Currently, the industry is dominated by few exporters while others are supplying locally.
On the local scene, small firms are actively involved in supplying a number of supermarkets and chain stores along the line of rail.
Few years ago, the South African Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries granted Zambia access to its pure honey market after meeting sanitary import requirements.
In the past, Zambian honey was subjected to irradiation resulting into restricted market access of Zambian honey thereby preventing South African consumers from accessing the country’s certified organic honey.
Fortunately, the two countries have reached an advanced stage of this programme with the Zambian Government suggesting that the local people export the honey in its semi processed form.
With such developments, we are optimistic that the move will contribute to the country’s diversification agenda which Government is championing.
This move will ensure that Zambia added value to its natural resources which in turn would create employment, says Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister, Christopher Yaluma.
“That has been discussed and we are very much advanced. The concept is that South Africa would like to get the honey core but Zambia is saying it is better we need the honey in full processed form and that is what we have submitted and that is our position as it is now,” he said.
Government’s goal in its Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP) for 2017 to 2021 is to create a diversified and resilient economy for sustained growth and socio-economic transformation driven, among others, through agriculture, tourism, manufacturing and mining.
The key outcomes include economic diversification and job creation; poverty and vulnerability reduction; reduced developmental inequalities; enhanced human development; and an enhanced governance environment for a diversified and inclusive economy.
A diversified economy creates a sustainable cycle of economic activity where businesses continually feed off of one another and grow larger as the economy grows.
Economic diversification is a key element of economic development in which a country moves to a more diverse production and trade structure.
A lack of economic diversification is often associated with increased vulnerability to external shocks that can undermine prospects for longer-term economic growth.
Diversification helps to manage volatility and provide a more stable path for equitable growth and development.
Successful diversification is all the more important now in the wake of slowing global growth and the imperative in many developing countries to increase the number and quality of jobs.
Trade expansion is central to creating new, higher productivity, jobs that will facilitate growth through structural transformation.
