New Guinea Fruit Co. Limited launched a mobile extension service this week for beekeepers across Eastern Highlands Province.
Partnering with the international development agency Oxfam in PNG and co-funded by New Guinea Fruit, Oxfam New Zealand and New Zealand Aid Program in a public- private project, the goal is to help beekeepers increase honey production and income for the producers.
The project will provide a dedicated extension service that will help rural beekeepers have greater success to technical information, beekeeping supplies and markets and as part of the project, New Guinea Fruits will employ full time extension officers, providing a vehicle as well as a start-up “honey hotline” for keeping in contact with registered beekeepers.
As honey will be bought directly from beekeepers in the village, reducing cost and difficulties for rural people to access distant markets, the “honey hotline” is a major innovation in how extension services are provided to remote communities in PNG.
New Guinea Fruit produces the Highlands Honey and has been supporting beekeepers in the Highlands for more than 15 years.
Picture: The New Guinea Fruit Bee Extension Team. Photo by David Shields