Nigerian beekeepers are advocating for a N36 billion investment to elevate the country’s honey production to commercial scales, emphasizing the need for infrastructure, queen bee rearing and sustainable systems to unlock economic gains and bolster food security.
The push highlights the sector’s untapped potential, with funding potentially enabling “bee villages” or estates for large-scale operations, enhancing pollination and crop yields across farms.
Mr. Niyi Adeyemo, Africa director-general for Youth for Agricultural Initiatives, noted that while awareness of beekeeping has risen, commercial expansion lags due to financing barriers.
“We have not scaled up to the commercial level in honey production. But in terms of awareness, we have done better,” Adeyemo said.
“Commercial production has not been increased because there’s no access to funds. Before you see a commercial bank or a potential investor in apiculture, they want to know the finance model and how soon they can get returns from their investors,” he added.
Adeyemo proposed state-level contributions: “However, if we can have each state dedicate like N1 billion to the apiculture sector, the funding is going to have a multi-diversity impact on the sector’s productivity.”
“We need like N36 billion investment to boost Apiculture production in Nigeria,” he stated.
Beyond honey, the industry yields wax, pollen, propolis, venom and royal jelly for food, cosmetics, medicine and industry, creating jobs for youth and farmers while addressing nutritional needs.
Challenges include limited finance access and the need for verified suppliers to ensure quality, as the sector seeks to attract investors and government support for growth.
