UNDP and Ceylon Biscuits to promote honey production

United Nations Development Program today signed a memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ceylon Biscuits Limited (CBL) to promote bee's honey production in the Uva province.

The project conducted by UNDP ART GOLD program and CBL aims to improve the honey production in the Uva Province.

Manager Special projects CBL Aruna Lokupothagamage, a bee-keeper himself, said that CBL had been engaged in discussions with the Agriculture Department and was involved in efforts to revive the bee industry in the Province. It was an uphill task but with the recent partnership with UNDP he is hopeful that things would improve.

The signing ceremony began with an opening address by UNDP ART GOLD projects Chief Technical Advisor Johannes Krassnitzer who expressed hope that the partnership between UNDP, the Agriculture Department and the private sector would improve the livelihoods of farmers and also support the local economy. Currently, Sri Lanka imports 50 metric tons of bees honey indicating that there is immense potential for the project to grow.

The project will be implemented in two phases. The first phase will be conducted in partnership with CBL and the Agriculture Department will focus on 150 farmers in the Badulla District. Based on the success of the pilot initiative, the project will be expanded to the Monaragala District in the next phase.