Beekeepers in Zimbabwe have formed a new association, the Professional Beekeepers Association of Zimbabwe (ProBAZ) with the aim of representing the pollinator family in the southern African country and also protect and resuscitate the industry.
ProBAZ was initially formed a few years ago as the Honey Producers Association of Zimbabwe (HOPAZ) before its latest decision to “modernise the association with modern home-grown solutions to beekeeping in Zimbabwe,” which has given birth to the new formation.
“ProBAZ seeks to provide a new approach to apiculture with the intention of: promoting the use of frame hives, training farmers in best beekeeping practices and technology that will help them expand their business profitably,” the association said in a statement released on Friday.
It added; “Collectively exploit both domestic and foreign markets by producing world class and high quality hive products, safeguard the environment and bees from the ever expanding agro-industry, protecting feral colonies, and researching and developing indigenous knowledge systems (IKS).”
ProBAZ said bees as pollinators in their various sub-species needed protection as they helped in feeding nations.
