13 July 2010
MUSCAT -- The Ministry of Agriculture has put in place programmes for the implementation of His Majesty the Sultan's Royal directives to promote honey bee sector.
The Rural Development Unit at the ministry is very active in promoting women entrepreneurship, he added. "At present, 40,000 bins units are operating in the sector with an average 10 kg/bin yield. Last year, the ministry provided 768 bins," said Al Khalili.
In Oman, bee-keeping is a centuries old tradition. According to some estimates, Oman is home to 35,000 apiaries and 5,200 bee farmers.
Honey is produced during June and November. In 2008, the country is said to have produced 96,026 kg of honey. Bee colonies in Oman are on the increase.
In comments to the Observer, Shaikh Salim bin Hilal al Khalili, Minister of Agriculture, said: "One of the major issues is to train and equip farmers for the development of honey bee sector activities and such programmes are being organised."
The honey bee programme assumes priority because His Majesty issued Royal directives to establish an RO 7 million fund to support projects for rural women in livestock and honey-breeding last year during his meet-the-people tour in the Wilayat of Ibri.
MUSCAT -- The Ministry of Agriculture has put in place programmes for the implementation of His Majesty the Sultan's Royal directives to promote honey bee sector.
The Rural Development Unit at the ministry is very active in promoting women entrepreneurship, he added. "At present, 40,000 bins units are operating in the sector with an average 10 kg/bin yield. Last year, the ministry provided 768 bins," said Al Khalili.
In Oman, bee-keeping is a centuries old tradition. According to some estimates, Oman is home to 35,000 apiaries and 5,200 bee farmers.
Honey is produced during June and November. In 2008, the country is said to have produced 96,026 kg of honey. Bee colonies in Oman are on the increase.
In comments to the Observer, Shaikh Salim bin Hilal al Khalili, Minister of Agriculture, said: "One of the major issues is to train and equip farmers for the development of honey bee sector activities and such programmes are being organised."
The honey bee programme assumes priority because His Majesty issued Royal directives to establish an RO 7 million fund to support projects for rural women in livestock and honey-breeding last year during his meet-the-people tour in the Wilayat of Ibri.
By Staff Reporter
© Oman Daily Observer 2010
