NES AROUN has 0.6 hectares of land on which he cultivates various crops. Although diligent, Bojjago could not
ETHIOPIA
Action for Development
produce enough food for his household due
He is determined to further expand his beekeeping
in spite of some problems including theft, and
the able-bodied members of his household had
attacks on his bees by predators. He says, “I have realised that in terms of return on input of labour and other resources, beekeeping is more rewarding
to migrate to town in search of employment whilst he and the rest of his family had to survive on relief
than cropping. This is particularly true in our area, where rainfall is unreliable. therefore see my
accessories were supplied. A travelling seminar was organised for 25 beekeepers to visit the apiary at Soddo Farmers Training Centre.
assistance. He began complementing his cropping activities with beekeeping. This has gradually
future in beekeeping.”
As a result beekeeping is gaining momentum. There are 57 beekeepers in nine areas using
With assistance from AFD, Bojjago has significantly increased his beekeeping activities.
Action for Development (AFD) has been promoting beekeeping in its project areas. Farmers were provided with a total of 106 clay hives and 41 hive shades. 22 sets of wooden frames and
four types of hive: a German design of top-bar hive made from bricks, wooden top-bar hives, clay hives and traditional hives. Yield per hive has
increased by up to 15 kg and in 1999 beekeepers associated with the project benefited from 7000 kg of honey. Many farmers can obtain more income from beekeeping than from crop production: up to
2000
Birr
(US $250).
Diversification of livelinoods is needed to reduce the vulnerability of farmers to calamities.
A good example is Bojjago Daddo, a farmer living near Wolayta. He heads a household of ten and
MOZAMBIQUE Since 1996 the Rural Women Development Association (AMRU) has been promoting beekeeping as a sustainable income source for women. The project has focussed on providing top-bar hives and protective clothing on loan, as well as offering basic training. Our Association is composed of 55 members, and some have done very well indeed. Last year Maria Codzai harvested 250 kg of honey from her top-bar hives. This honey was sold for US$770, which is about the
same as a primary schoo! teacher earns in one year. Maria has the advantage that she is used to bees, having for many years helped her husband with cropping honey from traditional
hives. Most beekeepers harvest less than half
this amount.
A major problem is providing the hive
roof.
If the roof is made from metal it is very expensive and is stolen. If made from plastic it easily gets damaged and leaks water, forcing
the bees to abscond.
Because of these problems we are encouraging our members to own traditional log hives. These seem a better option: they cost only US$1 compared with US$16 for a top-bar
Bee
ping & De lop
nt 57
to drought and other hazards. In very bad seasons
begun to reduce is vulnerability.
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AFD Annual Report 1999
He has improved the mix of his hives, and now has 25 of different types. Last season he harvested 152 kg of honey, raising 1474 Birr (US$184).
he
This additional income allowed him a down payment for the purchase of fertiliser and seed, the purchase of a draught ox, purchase of corrugated iron sheets for the renovation of his
ae
et
house, and payment of school fees for his children.
Bojjago is eager to share his newly acquired skills and fortune with his neighbours. He has already trained three of them in the
ay
+ 37
+
construction of clay hives.
hive, and the traditional hives last for many years compared with only three years for top-bar hives.
Beekeepers used to carry their honey to Zimbabwe for sale, but now they are very happy that our project is providing a market.
Therefore, although the harvest from a top-bar hive can be 10 kg compared with 7 kg from a traditional hive, the traditional hive
A problem is that about 50% of the honey has a high moisture content (19%) because beekeepers crop the honey before it is fully ripe. We are starting training on better harvesting techniques and co-ordinating thie with a careful selection of the honey bous by the project. We hope we will see an end to this problem.
is more profitable because of the lower investment costs.
Traditional beekeeping using log or bark hives is usually a male activity learnt from fathers and grandfathers. During the war in Mozambique many hives were
Tecla David
abandoned or destroyed but now that peace is established beekeepers are again taking on more hives.
PUERTO RICO Caribbean recovering In 1998 Hurricane Georges hit the Caribbean. It was one of the worst hurricanes in the 20th Century. Many trees were destroyed and Mother Nature is only recovering slowly. Since flowers from trees had become scarce, honey production is below normal levels.
Lewis Medina
