By Ronald Kalyango, New Vision, 3/30/11
When we think of honey, bees and pollen are foremost in our thoughts. Yet another important substance, propolis, a sticky resin collected by bees, is often far from our minds.
Propolis is a chemical that can work as an antibiotic, soothe inflammations, speed up healing of wounds, ease rheumatic pains, combat fungal infections and strengthen the body’s immune system.
This useful product, which has been ignored by human beings for years, is a money making product in Kabarole district, having attracted buyers from South Korea.
The buyers, who were identified by the Kabarole Bee Keepers Association, started purchasing the product last year.
The director of the association, Adolf Bagonza, describes the deal as fruitful to the farmers.
Bagonza says the association collects propolis from farmers and packages it in one litre jerrycans before it is sold to the Koreans.
“It is a good deal because we don’t incur exportation costs. They come for it from our shops,” Bagonza explained.
He says the association is assured of sh2m every month from the sale of the product…
There are several Ugandan companies engaged in the buying of propolis from farmers.
They include the Bee Natural Products based in Arua, Malaika Honey, Hives Save Lives Africa and Nyabubale Foundation for Rural Development, a Kabarole-based organisation.
Propolis is a sticky resin that seeps from the buds of some trees to protect tree buds from environmental hazards such as moulds, fungi, and bacteria.
…Propolis contains about 55% resinous compounds and balms, 30% beeswax, 10% aromatic essential oils and 5% bee pollen…
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