Three personnel of the National Apiculture Research, Training, and Development Institute served as resource speakers in the KADIWA AgriBiz Webinar, which was streamed through the YouTube Channel and Facebook Page of the Department of Agriculture Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (DA-AMAS) on September 21 and 28, 2021.

On September 21, Mr. De Castro talked on Beekeeping: Investment Opportunities and Challenges where he highlighted the Philippine apiculture industry situation, basics in beekeeping such as care and maintenance, pest and disease, cost and return analysis and market potential of beekeeping.

Meanwhile, Prof. Akilith delivered a lecture on Livelihood Opportunities from Honeybee and By-Products on September 28. She emphasized the benefits that could be derived from the value-added products from beekeeping and the innovative ways to increase the value of honey by using it as a raw material in the production of wines, vinegar, cosmetics, soaps, and other products.

Furthermore, Mr. Arvin C. Tuyan, NARTDI Coordinator for Training and Technical Assistance, was also featured during the second episode of the webinar on beekeeping where he discussed the different extension activities being undertaken by the Institute primarily on the provision of beekeeping training.

The KADIWA Agribiz Webinar is a collaborative activity among the Department of Agriculture offices and private industry groups and is spearheaded by the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service.

The two episodes are part of the DA-AMAS webinar series, which aims to promote agribusiness investment opportunities, programs, and projects implemented by the Department and its affiliated agencies, as well as private industry groups, to benefit agribusiness enthusiasts and other stakeholders affected by the pandemic, such as Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), displaced domestic workers, youth, private individuals interested to venture in agriculture, organizations/cooperatives, and farmers/fisherfolks. (Lester E. Orpilla)