Beekeeping in Bulangwa area

The project addresses problems of poverty and environmental degradation within the Community. The objective of the program is to increase livelihood opportunities based on sustainable natural resources and improve governance of these resources at local and regional levels hence creation of market linkages between poor micro-entrepreneurs in the informal sector, and the formal private sector. 

 The project will help women, youth and men to identify income generating activities that enable them reduce poverty in their homes by establishing beekeeping as an alternative local farming enterprise to create employment, saving the environment and empower local people with skills to people forming the beekeeping groups to improve and sustain livelihood of people in this community and address rural poverty and general health issues.

  Beekeeping project will exploit the market for Bee products in Bukombe District and market access in the neighboring places by supplying honey and later circulated all over the country

Agriculture is a key sector for economic development in Tanzania and a source of income of the rural people, assuring food security and providing jobs to fight against poverty. In some densely populated areas, agriculture production has been on the decline. Small scale famers are looking for means in farming activities that can enable them to earn reliable incomes and improve the welfare of their families

 In rural areas poverty and associated environmental degradation is seen in its most extreme form. Poverty and food insecurity is associated with limited livelihood diversification as repeated drought and failed harvests are common problems. Beekeeping has the potential to increase household incomes. Beekeeping not only creates a valuable income which reduces pressure on natural resources, it also supports biodiversity where flora and fauna is dependent on insect pollination.

 Women are typically restricted from accessing income-generative activities as a result of domestic responsibilities, cultural expectations and a lack of earning opportunities. Beekeeping provides an excellent opportunity for women to redress this imbalance.

 The project identified community-led opportunities to involve women in beekeeping and found that male and female beekeepers can share responsibilities without disrupting traditional roles. Women are supported in learning domestic bee husbandry techniques.

The alleviation of poverty in rural areas; and the provision of an ongoing source of local income for the work of the local community lies ion efficient, profitable and sustainable honey production and honey value chain in which all the actors in the district can maximize their potential and are able to relate to each other honey business.

 The project will be established on the land procured from the community land and a core group of 32 local people will be fully trained in beekeeping and offered support in establishing the project on their own land.

 Revenue raised will be put towards the emerging work of the project. To facilitate the start of stronger producer cooperatives into economic production units that will fully and fairly engage in the honey market value chain. To facilitate processes that allow key players in the value chain have access to appropriate technology, advisory and financial services and  ensure product diversification in bee products. Improvement of local health standards through the use of bee products. The project will involve conducting desk and field studies consisting of a series of meetings and interviews in the project area but also outside the project area.

The project will support poor families in rural areas of Bukombe District Council estimated to have a population of 301,403 people having 153,716 women and 147,687 men with the population growth rate of 5.9 percent per annum. The Pilot area will be Bulangwa ward having  a population of 10,881 people, 5,549 women and 5,332 men through introducing the concept of sustainable beekeeping, providing, education, material support, and technical cooperation in the field and start the situation analysis there and then extend gradually aiming at; increasing the technical knowledge and skills of small scale beekeepers, increase income of beneficiaries, provide the transition to ecological honey production, provide safe and healthy honey and promote working groups and networking.

 Participatory approach baseline analysis will be performed to understand the reality of the issues, how they interrelate, how they evolved, and how urgent they rank. Needs assessment will also be performed to identify, prioritize, and level the needs.

 The project will start with people of rural areas who live in poor conditions, meetings with beekeepers and those who used to be in business but stopped for any reason. These groups are met randomly in poor areas and interviewed to understand their needs and problems.

The project target group is selected to be poor farmers from rural areas, with an aim to provide them with additional sources of income and reduce their insecurity.  Honey production is a reliable revenue generating activity, with a very high rate of business development thus should be provided with sufficient technical and financial support.  

This Beekeeping project will provide consultancy and training services to selected number of people forming the beekeeping groups to improve and sustain livelihood of people in this community. This will also promote employment through the formed groups engagement in beekeeping, link to markets by supplying honey.

The beekeeping sector in the Bulangwa ward has remained stagnant the  groups  are not yet  empowered as many have not moved away from donor dependency to operate independently and on a commercial basis. Most of the inefficiencies along different segments of the honey value chain are as a result of non-commercial approaches to beekeeping and honey trade.

 Bukombe District Council is one of the Country’s most impoverished and least developed area in the country. In rural areas the spiral of poverty and associated environmental degradation is seen in its most extreme form. The average annual income for an agricultural household in the region is less than the national average. Chronic poverty and food insecurity is associated with limited livelihood diversification as repeated drought and failed harvests are common in the harsh climate.

 Bukombe District Council has also been one of the Country’s conservation priority. The area is renowned for its rich biodiversity and endemic flora and fauna; however unique habitats face multiple immediate threats including illegal logging, land clearance and mining.

 Beekeeping has the potential to increase district household incomes. Beekeeping not only creates a valuable income stream, which reduces pressure on natural resources, it also actively supports biodiversity in a country where flora and fauna is dependent on insect pollination for survival.

 The project identifies community opportunities to involve women in beekeeping. The Project will proactively promote gender equality in the region drawing on learnings from other projects, and comparable international development initiatives that have successfully mobilized women.

The project will involve conducting desk and field studies that consists of a series of meetings and interviews in the project area but also outside the project area. The project Manager will meet with stakeholders in honey business in the district representatives of local Government, donors and other service providers.

 The Project will assess technological constraints in honey production, processing and marketing in relation to what is available in the market both locally and regionally.

 The plot will be fenced with locally available wood materials with barbed wire to protect the hives from stray animals and trespassers. Within the fenced area beehives will be installed scattered maintaining isolation distance of 8-10 ft.

 The sheds will be constructed with the locally available materials to protect the bees from hot season. This will also protect the bees at the time of excess rain fall.

 The hives will be kept on stands with provision to make it ant proof. This will help in easy handling of the colonies and protect the bees from ant and other predators.

 The bee nurseries will be established in selected areas in the farms having adequate forage plants in and around to support the honey bees.

 The training will involve both theory and Practical elements. The training center will be established at a place that will be seen suitable for the training of farmers. The project will make efforts to build up the training hall, laboratories, small knowledge museum, store rooms, Office room and amenities.

The technology was practised in Rural Mahatalaky Commune, Anosy Region, southeast Madagascar

 In Madagascar, the project was implemented by developing beekeeping as a sustainable livelihood in rural Communities with the objective to increase incomes, reduce dependence on natural resources and improve biodiversity in endangered forest environments through the development of beekeeping as a sustainable livelihood practice in the Anosy region of southeast Madagascar, increasing the value chain and building urgent regional resilience against varroa mite infestations. In rural communities of southeast Madagascar, there is a strong tradition of honey harvesting amongst small-scale farmers. Beekeeping or apiculture provides nutritional, economic and ecological security to rural communities as an additional income generating activity. This project is primarily concerned with reducing poverty among rural people and providing ongoing resources for the work with the Vision of Economic empowerment of people and support for ministry through the widespread introduction of beekeeping.

 Web: madagascar.co.uk

The ultimate goal is to have an efficient, profitable and sustainable honey production and honey value chain in which all the actors in the district can maximize their potential and are able to relate to each other honey business and to improve food security and household incomes among small holder farmers in the area of Bulangwa ward and Bukombe District in general.  

 It is anticipated that the honey value chain will be moved from chain segment (where the beekeepers are now) to for/backward integration by strengthening the joint action of beekeepers and linking them to the market. To continue from where the other beekeepers had stopped in the Beekeeping projects and where they are still facing challenges.

 To increase honey, wax and propolis production in the community to increase incomes of the rural poor so that they meet their basic needs and school fees. Equip women with practical skill on bee keeping and demonstration alternative income generating for poor women owning small land. Teach women viable options of increasing their incomes as well as household. Demonstrate the integration of beekeeping into the entire substance farming system. To increase crop production, while also promoting environmental protection. To make use of barren and upland where food and cash crop cannot be grown.

 Beekeeping project will ensure guaranteed Market linkage for Bee products produced in the project areas. Beekeeping project also will provide the necessary and requisite training for the rural communities in Beekeeping products processing, Harvesting and apiary management, artisans making beehives, hive tools, bee protective gear, processing gear and smokers. Bee House products will supply the necessary Bee equipment when the funder provides the money for the equipment.

This project will create a favorable environment in which to market their Bee products by establishing Honey collection center where all the honey will be collected, refined and then linked to markets.

This is achieved through a combination of adequate training and easy access to acquire bee hives and other equipment, extension and advisory support, a guaranteed market for their produce at a mutually acceptable price.

The target group will earn additional income through sales of honey and beeswax. This will enable them to purchase food and health care and relieve them of the need to hire out their children’s labour, so that they can go to school instead. Income from honey sales can be invested in small livestock so households can build their asset base and long-term resilience. Currently the project has not yet started to deal directly with people but it operates in an area of Bulangwa ward with a population of 10,881. Within one year of project it will serve approximately 100 people. Within five years, this project aims to support of up to 5,549 local people who are interested in beekeeping per year. The major goals of this project are hence twofold: to provide a new stream of income for the work of the community, and to alleviate poverty through the training and support of local people in the practice of beekeeping.

 Beekeeping is emerging as a very successful agricultural practice for local people in rural areas of less developed countries. In rural areas there is almost an unlimited source of pollen and bees aid greatly in the natural cross pollination of local crops. Health benefits for local people reliant on small agriculture to provide food are centered on the enriching qualities of honey in a diet which is usually dependent upon staple foods such as bananas and maize.

The ultimate goal is to have an efficient, profitable and sustainable honey production and honey value chain to maximize potential to each other honey business.

 It is anticipated that, within one year the honey value chain will be moved from chain segment to backward integration by strengthening the joint action of beekeepers and linking them to the market. To facilitate the start of stronger producer associations/cooperatives into economic production units that will fully and fairly engage in the honey market value chain. To facilitate processes that allow key players in the value chain have access to appropriate inputs/technology, advisory and financial services and  ensure product diversification in Beekeeping. To establish 100 hives and train a 100 local community members in the practice of beekeeping. To introduce a further 100 local people to beekeeping as a means of providing personal income and reducing local poverty with a targeted 40% adoption rate in the first year.

Improvement of local health standards through the use of bee products. To provide beekeeping equipment, leadership training and formation of beekeeping groups.

Future plans within five years:

To increase honey, wax and propolis production in the community to increase incomes of the rural poor so that they meet their basic needs and school fees.

Equip women with practical skill on bee keeping and demonstration alternative income generating for poor women owning small land.

To establish a business sustainable strategy using a private sector led approach that will enable the continuity of the project.

The barriers in accomplishment of the goals included;

Unavailability of market for products and on-farm labour demand

Presence of local knowledge and traditional uses for the particular on-farm enterprise

Limited beekeeping knowledge

Fear of defensive honey bees,

Insufficient capital to purchase inputs and limited land availability

Unsure whether beekeeping could be profitable and cited poor market access for hive products

Inadequate accessibility of agricultural extension services.

Lack of training on agricultural enterprise & beekeeping management

Lack of training on agricultural & beekeeping product processing

Inadequate routine extension agent visits

Unavailability agricultural input & beekeeping equipment support

Unavailability agricultural and beekeeping products market information

The project will design a simplified version of the Lang troth modern hive which can be built entirely from locally-sourced, sustainable materials and does not require investment in expensive additional equipment. The Project will promote the effective, sustainable transition to modern hives, whilst also collaborating with government bodies to develop a rigorous disease prevention program.. The Project will proactively promote gender equality in the region drawing on learnings from other projects, and comparable international development initiatives that have successfully mobilized women. Steps I intend take to get my beekeeping project off the ground:

Make sure there is sufficient interest among my group members. To gauge interest, I introduced the idea of starting a bee project and asking for people’s thoughts.

Find a location for the hives. I had to consider for possible locations. In my case, I hoped to have my hives located within my own location. I went on to approach the owners of several nearby land locations and found one open to the idea and bought for putting hives.

Find a local, experienced beekeeper to guide the project. When the Project takes off, I will look for an experienced beekeeper to guide me as I start a beekeeping project and will also act as my lead bee teacher.

 Establishment of the hives and ensure that local people are given access to a system of support and mentoring throughout the establishment of their own hives. The establishment of bees keeping project for widows Associations in rural areas.

4.0.TEAM:

Na

Responsibility: Project Director

Location: Rulenge - Ngara

Weekly Hours: 2

Name: Edwin Bitenda Rumazi
Responsibility: Project Coordinator

Weekly Hours: 28

Name: Alex Mkama

Responsibility: Adiministative

Location: Dar es salaam

Weekely Hours: 2

Name: Festus Byarugaba

Responsibility: Project Manger

Location: Bukombe

Weekely Hours: 36

2 Support Staff

Unskilled

Location: Bukombe

Time: Full Time

The team has been working in a beekeeping industry for about four years whereby the team attended various seminars and acquired skill in beekeeping. Some of the skills the group posseses are:

Handling of beehives, Feeding beehives, Beehive nutrition, Movement of beehives, Learning about location site needs at different times of the year, Operation and maintenance of machinery, Observing business management and taught pricing of honey on the market and pollination contracts dealing with fluctuating prices

 As a Beekeepers the team works on bee farms, and generally have the following responsibilities:

Monitor bee/hive health and activity and record observations, Raise bees to produce honey and/or pollinate crops, Construct or assemble and maintain beehives using hand tools, Force bees' evacuation from hive using smoke pot or other tools in order to harvest honey and inspect hive, Inspect beehives for parasites, vermin or disease and remove and repair damage, Cultivate bees to produce bee colonies and queen bees for sale, Prepare or package products for sale, Determine optimal location for pollination and move beehives accordingly, assembling beehives and other equipment, buying and selling bees, establishing settlements close to pollination-dependent crops,

transporting wild beehives to a central location, raising queen bees, and harvesting and selling honey.