LUSAKA, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian government on Thursday officially launched the export of organic honey to China worth 34,000 U.S. dollars.

Minister of Fisheries and Livestock Kampamba Mulenga, who flagged off the export of the first assignment of 3.4 tons of organic honey in the central town of Kabwe, said the market access to China was a milestone to Zambia's diversification agenda.

The export of organic honey follows the signing of an export protocol by Zambia and China during the Forum on Africa-China Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing summit held last month, according to state-broadcaster, the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation.

She appealed to more bee farmers to increase their production now that the market access has been created.

Currently, Zambia's annual honey production is 2,500 tons and the southern African nation exports 1,000 tons to the European and African market, leaving a surplus of 1,500 tons, she added.