BEEKEEPING
&
DEVELOPMENT 43
Horst Wendorf
is a
German
sociologist who has worked with beekeeping projects in Zambia for
eight years. In the North Western Province, beekeepers (using bark hives) have been helped to improve their honey
processing and get their products on to the international market.
They have been encouraged to form an Association and become
decision-making participants in an established marketing company. In Copperbelt Province there is
limited tradition in beekeeping and
increasing woodland depletion. Here
top-bar hive beekeeping has been introduced as an alternative to excessive honey hunting. In this
article Horst argues that this, together with good marketing of diverse products, provides a way
forward.
This article continues a debate from
B&D37
and
Constructing a top-bar hive
B&D39.
‘
“MAKE MONEY FROM BEESWAX AND HONEY” is the motto of the Forestry Department in Zambia. Indeed, a great number of small-scale farmers in the vast woodlands of Zambia follow this approach. But this is not new. For many generations honey hunting, (the collection of honey from wild bees’ nests), and bark hive beekeeping have been part of village life. The Portuguese influence during the pre-colonial period gave honey production a great boost, because a good market for beeswax was created. Beeswax became one of the most important commodities for trading and cash income. Export figures have never again reached the same levels they enjoyed during the colonial period.
Only a small quantity of honey is eaten by the beekeeper's family. Most is used for brewing the honey beer “mbote’ used in celebrations, for barter, and paying for help with agriculture. Beekeeping plays a vital role in the social, cultural and economic environment of the rural population, as Eleanor Fisher described in B&D39.
“Honey Province” The North Western Province emerged as the “Honey Province” of Zambia, because of its historical tradition of beeswax trade, its close proximity to Angola, its remoteness, and its vast “untouched” miombo woodlands. However, tremendous changes in the lifestyles of the people have happened because of intervention from outside.
First it was the penetrating money economy, which created a commodity market. Then the mines in the Copperbelt made Zambia one of the most urbanised countries in Africa with 50% of the population living in towns. The labour migration to the mine areas deprived the rural areas of male-dominated economic activities. The population concentrated along the new roads, leaving the former basis of their livelihood as a remote area The introduction of schools prevented children from participating in hunting and
gathering techniques. Economic opportunities created an atmosphere of dedication to “modern life’, with desire for jobs and consumer goods.
New influences Beekeeping was also subject to new influences. The erosion of traditional values has led to theft
becoming the main problem for beekeepers. This was inconceivable when “magic” protected bee hives in remote locations. The custom of practising beekeeping in camps is on the decline (if it has not already disappeared) No wild animals are left to hunt, and with increasing mobilisation and communication, people tend to participate in other social or economic activities
Trees
gone
Young people in particular are unwilling to continue conventional activities and would rather wait for any other opportunity to make money. areas where
In
population pressure leads to large settlements with more intensive agriculture and other strains on natural resources, the basis for bark hive beekeeping diminishes, as the big and straight trees that were used for bark hives disappear.
These are just a few examples of the way in which Zambia is affected by the world market, by impacts of the Structural Adjustment Programme, declining prices of raw materials like copper, and many other factors.
Labour intensive The local method of using bark hives can only be sustainable as long as no radical changes emerge in the social, cultural and economic environment. However, the technology has not been altered by the people themselves, in spite of the transformations happening. The bark hive method requires a high input of labour and the economic result is usually poor Although beekeepers are used to working without protective clothing many hives are not cropped because of the defensiveness of bees. Most of the hives are placed far from the beekeepers’ homes, at distances ranging from 6 to 30 km. Usually only one 20 litre honey container can be carried back to the village for marketing. All these constraints mean that many beekeepers do not harvest and supervise their hives regularly. A Bees for Development publication
5
