South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Mayak Majak Madit Tokjok
The chairperson of the Mugele group in Domolota Payam, Wulu County,Mr. Francis Linda Dikuya, has praised Oxfam for its support of beekeeping initiatives that have increased honey production in Lakes State. However, despite successfully establishing 150 Kenyan Top Bar beehives last year, the new design has resulted in lower yields, averaging 10 litres per hive compared to 35 litres from traditional hives.
“These Kenyan Top Bar beehives do not produce well due to their height; they are placed about 1.5 to 2 metres up in trees, which makes them vulnerable to fires in December and January. Additionally, they are easily knocked down by children and animals in the forest,” Dikuya explained to the press on Thursday in Wulu County.
He urged Oxfam to provide boreholes in this food-rich forest, as bees need water to thrive, which could lead to higher yields. The honey can be harvested twice a year from March to September, resulting in a thick and delicious product.
Dikuya appealed to Oxfam to implement a fencing project around the trees with food baskets to protect the bees from threats. Ensuring the security of the Kenyan Top Bar beehives is essential for harvesting sufficient honey, which could reach international markets, including Dubai, South Africa, and Germany. The land and forests of South Sudan are rich in natural resources, but a lack of skills, tools, and experience has left many people struggling to accumulate wealth.
However, Dikuya noted that there are manual and technical jobs that individuals can pursue to sustain comfortable lives without having to rely on delayed government salaries.
He expressed gratitude to Governor Rin Tueny Mabor for maintaining security, which has enabled people to thrive by enriching themselves with local products, despite the challenges posed by fluctuating currency rates.
