IN an effort to eliminate honey importation, the Department of Agriculture is encouraging more farmers to venture in to bee farming.
Animal Health Production director Tomasi Tunabuna said honey production was progressing well but there was still a need to drive farmers into such farming.
"We are producing a lot of honey that is able to meet local demand at the moment but we still see imported products on supermarket shelves," Mr Tunabuna said.
"The department is doing its best to eliminate honey importation so money is circulated within the economy."
He said the outbreak of a honey bee disease known as American Foul Disease in Lautoka last year had prompted the department to set up a team to survey farms in parts of the country.
"We managed to contain the outbreak last year and this year, we plan to deploy the team to carry out a disease survey to inspect farms," he said.
"With the outbreak, local honey production decreased but it picked up again this year.
"The proposed work will be funded by Pharmaceutical Association of Malaysia (PHAMA)."
He said local production was imperative because it was another way of retaining money for the economy.