Sweet inspiration from mum
Being a diabetic didn’t stop her from inspiring her son to produce milk honey ice blocks and ice-cream. “The idea was inspired by my diabetic mother,” Vincent Padiachy said as he was awarded a grant under the Youth Entrepreneurship Scheme (YES).
He aims to venture into producing milk honey ice-cream ice blocks, which are sweetened by honey. Thus it can be consumed by diabetic patients.
“My mother faced a lot of difficulty in controlling her diabetes, because everything had sugar,” said Mr Padiachy.
“My grant project focuses on two levels, one is using honey instead of sugar for the ice-cream and ice blocks and the other is starting a bee farm for a continuous supply of honey.
“I believe that my business idea is workable as I can even sell honey if the ice block sales deteriorate,” said Mr Padiachy.
The success of the business is reliant on the capital and how well the beefarming kicks off in given time.
The YES programme by the Fijian government has enabled Mr Padiachy who is from Labasa, to fullfill his dream of becoming an entrepreneur and he is eager to venture into business.
Mr Padiachy’s business idea would generate employment in the rural sector once the business would run at full capacity.
The training and mentorship offered by the programme will help in establishing a functional farm for the bees and a suitable harvesting system.
Milk honey ice blocks made from honey promotes a healthier diet and this can open up new prospects for apiculture and business for people.