FUTA Intensifies Drive for Sustainable Honey Production, Warns Against Adulterated Products

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24/02/26 • 66 Lượt xem • 0 Đăng lại • Xuất bản năm Khác

The Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) has stepped up efforts to promote beekeeping and honey production as viable sources of household income, amid growing concerns over the proliferation ..

At a two-day seminar held on February 9 and 10, 2026, in collaboration with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), researchers, industry practitioners and stakeholders converged to equip participants with practical knowledge on cottage honey production and quality enhancement. The seminar forms part of an Institution-Based Research (IBR) project sponsored by TETFund, focusing on sustainable honey production and economic empowerment.

Participants received hands-on training in apiary establishment, colony management and marketing strategies, with organisers stressing the need to guarantee the availability of pure, unadulterated honey to consumers. The initiative was described as both an academic undertaking and a community-driven intervention designed to translate research into practical impact.

Speaking during the opening session titled “Honey Production for Sustainable Household Income,” the Principal Investigator and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Professor Timothy Amos, said the project was conceived to expand livelihood opportunities within and beyond the university community.

“The two-day event is aimed at boosting household income through honey production. It is part of our TETFund-sponsored research focused on practical and community-impact solutions,” he stated.

Professor Amos explained that the research underpinning the seminar seeks to evaluate awareness of honey’s health benefits among staff and students, establish an apiary for conserving native bee species and assess the cost-effectiveness and profitability of honey production using top-bar technology. Preliminary findings, he revealed, indicate that awareness of honey’s health value is relatively high, while factors such as education level, income, age and knowledge significantly influence consumption patterns. He urged marketers to prioritise authenticity and accessibility in order to maintain consumer trust.

In her address, FUTA’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adenike Oladiji, emphasised accountability in the utilisation of research grants, noting that the institution deliberately channels funding into applied research capable of advancing food security, job creation and household income.

“Accountability is crucial for progress. As management, we decided to use research funds to support applied research that can directly impact society,” she said.

Drawing from her background in nutrition, Oladiji described honey as a nutrient-rich alternative to refined sugar, citing its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, as well as its medicinal applications in wound healing. She stressed that universities must move beyond publishing research to ensuring tangible community benefits.

“Our duty is to ensure that research translates into community impact,” she said, adding that promoting beekeeping aligns with broader government initiatives on youth empowerment and self-reliance. According to her, beekeeping offers students a productive venture that can be pursued without disrupting academic commitments.

Providing technical insights in a lecture on cottage honey production, Dr. Akinwande Kayode of the Department of Biology described backyard honey production as a small-scale enterprise suited for family consumption and local markets. He contrasted it with industrial beekeeping, which demands significant capital and advanced infrastructure.

“Nigeria does not yet have a robust industrial beekeeping and pollination industry compared to countries like the United States, where farms operate thousands of hives using advanced technology,” he noted, adding that financial institutions often hesitate to invest in the sector due to structural and feasibility concerns.

Dr. Kayode advised aspiring beekeepers to adopt proper site selection and management practices, cautioning against locating apiaries near farms that use agrochemicals or close to highways. He also underscored the importance of artificial feeding, swarm control and routine hive inspections to maintain colony health and maximise yield.

In another session, Olarewaju Olorunyomi, Chairman of the Big Keepers Association, Ondo State Chapter, urged practitioners to treat beekeeping as a structured business venture rather than a hobby. He recommended the Kenya top-bar hive made from hardwood as a durable and efficient option widely used in the state.

Olorunyomi warned strongly against the production and sale of fake honey, often manufactured from sugar syrup, noting that such practices endanger public health and erode consumer confidence. He referenced global experiences with colony collapse disorder, observing that while the United States once lost a significant percentage of its colonies, China strengthened preventive measures and emerged as the world’s largest honey producer.

As the seminar concluded, participants expressed optimism that the initiative would stimulate broader interest in beekeeping across campuses and communities. By integrating research, capacity-building and industry collaboration, FUTA’s intervention highlights agriculture-based enterprises as practical pathways to economic empowerment and sustainable development.

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