Honey Production In Fiji Home, The Collection, Go to Order Page, Mailing List

Beekeeping or Apiculture has become one of the fastest growing industries in Fiji with interest shown by people from all walks of life. The present industry traces its origins to project Phoebee; which began in September 1975, with the assistance of Jeremy Fox, a lecturer at the University of the South Pacific.

New Zealand aid was forthcoming to extend the project to the Lomaivuna area in 1979, where 40 hives were distributed among 33 farmers, albeit with limited success. In 1980 the project was restructured to enable interested persons to purchase the necessary equipment from the Department of Agriculture. Assistance provided included establishing hives and training, with emphasis given to the commercial unit.

However, commercial honey production was developed in a number of areas in the 1950’s and 1960’s. An organization known as “Morrison Bross” is reputed to have operated 1,000 hives in the Greater Suva area and exported honey to Europe until Cyclone Bebe decimated their stock. Hives are also known to have been established at Navuso Agricultural School, vatukauloa, Taveuni/Laucala and in Suva; however in virtually all cases, the apiaries have disappeared, either as a result of natural disasters or technological problems..

Training workshops for budding beekeepers cover five modules and any one person can set up his or her bee hives after the first module. This can be achieved through governments 1/3 – 2/3 assistance or through other agencies like the New Zealand Te ke kano Funds.

The Department of Cooperatives also assists potential apiculturalists through the purchase of beehives and honey extractors, smokers and other accessories apart from training in small business management. Honey is harvested once every two months if the climate conditions are favourable. Nonetheless continuing effort by the Agriculture Ministry through the Apiculture Unit has seen a steady increase in the number of farms around the country which should see further increase in production.

The Ministry plans to increase the number of bee hives through Hive Development programmes. In doing so, the Ministry expects to have 8000 standing hives by the end of 2006, and increase of 1000 from the 7000 currently standing. More than 200 tonnes of honey was harvested in 2005 and current forecasts for 2006 are 250 tonnes.

$3.00	$0.18
$0.40	$1.00

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