East African company Honey Care Africa has announced that it intends to expand its honey-keeping project in South Sudan, aiming to reach thousands of farmers.

In a press release, the company said that its project, “A Sweeter South Sudan,” helps small-scale South Sudanese farmers generate additional income through honey production.

This announcement comes after Honey Care Africa won a prize from the international food company Nestlé, valued at $210,000.

“We are delighted that Nestlé have recognised the potential our project has in empowering the lives of smallholder farmers,” said Ryan Marincowitz, Country Manager HCA in South Sudan.

He said the company will help farmers to become commercial beekeepers.

Marincowitz said he also looks forward to building a long-term relationship with Nestlé, “as we leverage our sustainable local supply chain with Nestlé’s global resources and expertise.”

Honey Care noted that it has more than 10 years of operating history throughout East Arica, deploying beehives to smallholder farmers.  

The company says that South Sudan has the potential to be “one of the largest honey producing regions in the world.” It says that forests in the country should be preserved in order to maintain this potential.

“Beekeeping allows indigenous populations to monetize these forest assets safely and sustainably,” the company stated.