Nyanza Province faces an acute shortage of honey, forcing consumers to import the product from Eastern region following a drastic drop in bee keeping.

Provincial Monitoring and Evaluation Officer in the Ministry of Livestock, Mr Stanley Muhindi, said the province produces only 10 per cent of the region’s requirements, leaving a shortfall of 90 per cent.

He attributed the shortfall to lack of hives and equipment. “Honey production can only support 10 per cent of Nyanza residents and this has forced us to buy more honey from Machakos district to meet 90 per cent of the damend,” he said.

Districts with a lot of potential like Bondo, Siaya, Kisii, Migori and Kuria can hardly produce honey owing to lack of modern methods of bee keeping.

Mr Muhindi advised farmers to take bee keeping seriously and produce honey on commercial basis. He urged chiefs to help sensitize residents on the importance of adopting modern methods of bee keeping and equipment.

Meanwhile, residents of Rangwe Constituency will benefit from a Sh10 million fresh produce market constructed under the economic stimulus programme.

The market to be built at Nyangweso trading centre, will help farmers and traders market produce.

It is expected to improve living standards through increased income for farmers and traders by reducing wastage of fresh produce such as pineapples.

Homa Bay County Council Clerk William Lubalo said houses and other structures on site were demolished to pave way for the construction. He said traders who previously occupied the site had moved after receiving quite notices, as the site belongs to the council.