Prospects and challenges of apiculture business in Nigeria - a review

There is serious unemployment in Nigeria. The country is presently suffering economic recession which has affected organizations, businesses, families and homes. The need for an alternative source of national revenue apart from crude oil has become imperative for lots of Nigerians. Because of this government is encouraging projects that can promote self reliance so as to reduce the problem of unemployment and salvage the country out of economic recession. Among the projects that can induce self reliance is beekeeping. This review seeks to find out the business opportunities of beekeeping in Nigeria, various uses of honey and other bee products, the global demand for bee products, the species of bees best used for rearing and the constraints militating against the success of apiculture business. Beekeeping as an agroforestry practice has not been given much attention in the country. There is increasing demand for honey in Nigeria and the world at large but the practice of beekeeping in Nigeria is generally low. Apiculture is one of the most lucrative enterprises in many parts of the world. It is a profitable business that has no negative impact on the environment. It is a profitable and a viable enterprise that requires very little investment and produces quick returns. To overcome the challenges facing beekeeping in Nigeria, Government should assist interested beekeepers with soft loans and provide modern beekeeping equipments such as movable frame hives, bee suit and smokers at subsidized rates. Beekeeping practice should be adopted as a an integrated rural development approach and should be promoted by a well organized extension service to act as a link between apiculture specialists and rural beekeepers (Onyekuru, 2004). Improvement in honey production by beekeeping practitioners will be a sure way of adding market value to apiculture business and efforts should be made by Nigerian Export Commission to show case Nigerian honey in the world market.Keywords: Apiculture, self reliance, Unemployment, economic recession, opportunities, challenge