The Youth for Apiculture Initiative (YFAI) has called for involvement of more young people in bee-keeping to reduce unemployment and ensure food security.
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The YFAI President, Mr Kingsley Nwaogu, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.
NAN reports that YFAI is committed to empowering youths with investment strategies and market linkages/platforms for hive products and related businesses.
“We can promote bee-keeping through one-on-one interactions, the media, churches and schools. Government’s active involvement is key.
“To get more young people involved in apiculture, we must engage in rural community empowerment.
“The major occupation in rural areas is farming; so, we should engage more youths in bee-keeping,” he said.
He added that through bee pollination, the productivity of other farms could be improved.
“Bees and other pollinators are essential for our existence, sustaining agriculture and biodiversity worldwide.
“More young farmers can influence their communities via bee farming.
“We should set up bee clubs in primary, second and tertiary institutions to get more young people involved.
“Youths for Apiculture Initiative is in the forefront leading the advocacy, and we call on relevant stakeholders to join us,” he said.
On his part, Mr Yusuf Adeyemo, Member, Apimondia Africa Regional Commission on Honey and Hive Product Value Chain Strategy Development Plan Committee, said that young people played a vital role in bee-keeping.
“The role of young people in bee-keeping cannot be over-emphasised.
“Bee-keeping is an ancient practice and business across the world, and the skills basically lie with old people.
“However, any business that does not involve the youth will definitely go into extinction.
“That is why the theme of this year’s World Bee Day celebration is centred on youths’ recognition of their roles in preserving bee-keeping.
“We must get more bee-keepers among the youth. It does not disturb their regular jobs,” he said.
According to him, YFAI, since 2018, has been empowering youths across the value-chain of bee-keeping.
“We have trained over 100 youths.
“Introducing the youth to bee-keeping will create jobs and reduce employment,” Adeyemo said.
