Ondo State Beekeepers Association
INTRODUCTION
Bees are social insects whose importance via their products existed as man himself. No wonder therefore why honey, one of their major products was mentioned severally in the book of life – The Bible.
Bees feed us and heal us by their products. These products are known and used globally. The importance placed on these products depends on where they are being produced and the understanding of both the producers and consumers.
It is however of interest that honey, which is the cheapest of the products of bees has become the most popular. Its popularity has outmatched other costlier products like bee wax, bee propolis, bee pollen, bee royal jelly, bee venom etc.
THE HONEY
Honey is bee’s major product. Its importance cannot be overstretched. It is the only substance in the world that is composed of every class of food. It is therefore a wonderful food supplement. Many farmers are not into production of honey through beekeeping for two reasons: one, ignorance of its money spinning capacity and two, the fear of bees.
However, due to enlightment via seminars and the media, both print and electronic, many people are now making beekeeping a choice in employment and income generation in Nigeria.
In Ondo State, over a thousand beekeepers have been identified and the number is increasing. Because of the economic importance of bee and bee products in income and employment generation locally and internationally vis-Ã -vis the nutritional values, we saw a need to organize the producers into a body to make them accessible for programmes that can further enhance bee products production, hence the birth of an ASSOCIATION.
BEEKEEPERS’ ASSOCIATION, ONDO STATE
This is an association made up of practicing beekeepers in the State. Membership for now is 1200 people spread across the 18 local government areas of the State.
Its aims and objectives are:
| # | Executive Members | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pastor Olorunyomi O.L | Chairman |
| 2 | Mr. Akindun G.A | Vice Chairman South |
| 3 | Mrs. Adedeji V.O | Vice chairperson Central |
| 4 | Mr. Dada I. | Vice chairman North |
| 5 | Rev. Ogunsusi J.A | Secretary |
| 6 | Mr. Omotola O. | Assistant Secretary |
| 7 | Rev. Ologunode J.A | Treasurer |
| 8 | Pastor Adekanye I. | Welfare Officer |
| 9 | Pastor Akinsehinde S.O | Financial Secretary |
| 10 | Mrs. Ayo Ajayi | Public Relation Officer |
| 11 | Rev. Makinde F. | Ex-officio member |
The newly inaugurated executive of beekeepers in Ondo State have the following members as listed above.
AFFILIATIONS
The association is affiliated to the Federation of Beekeepers Association of Nigeria (FEBKAN). It is also a member of Ondo state Agricultural Commodities Association (OSACA) a state Umbrella body of farmers’ Associations.
ACTIVITIES
Training
The association trains members in modern beekeeping especially in the areas of packaging and hygienic processing of bee products. It is an extensive training carried out in all the local government areas for members. It has seriously impacted on beekeeping activities.
Beekeeping Materials
The association also produces standard beekeeping materials for sale to its members at subsidized rates. Materials like bee hives, bee smokers, bee suits etc. are massed produced and sold to them. This has allowed for uniformly and standard of the materials and the patronage by them is increasing daily. In addition to the above, the high quality bee smokers for sale to the members has reduced the use of fire by some bee harvesters. The proper use of these smokers has greatly improved the quality of honey harvested.
Meeting
Our meetings are monthly and they are used to disseminate new information to members and brief them about programmes of our umbrella body, OSACA.
Database
We have produced a data base for the members of the association. This contains members' bio data and beekeeping activities and locations. It gives us ease of monitoring our members.
Market
The association makes contact with bodies that may need our products like bee wax, propolis etc. They are hitherto not in high demands.
Honey Processing Factory
Ondo state has a functional honey processing factory where our honey can be processed and analyzed.
For more information, please contact:
Pastor Olorunyomi O.L, State Chairman
+234 (0) 803 491 2139