Bees/or Development Journal 83
AFRICAN HONEY TRADE
APITRADE AFRICA MEETS IN
PROCEEDINGS OF THE SECOND AFRICAN HONEY TRADE WORKSHOP
ARUSHA
Following the success of Bees for Development's First Honey
Apitrade Africa is an emerging network dedicated to promoting trade in African honey and other bee products. A Task Force formed at the
Trade Workshop, which took place prior to the Apimondia Congress in Ireland in August 2005, we organised the Second African Honey
Bees for Development Second African Honey Trade Workshop in Kampala in October 2006 took on the job of setting up the Organisation
Trade Workshop in October 2006. It was part of our DFID/BLCF Project on African Honey, and the main sponsor was Rowse Honey Ltd. Over 100 participants from 14 countries attended the
and directing its development and work. In February 2007 the Task Force met in Arusha to tackle an agenda including work on the constitution, developing a medium-term strategy and work plan, and to discuss the participation of ApiTrade Africa at the Apimondia Congress in September
Workshop, held at Seeta, near Kampala, Uganda. For four days African honey producing and trading businesses considered challenges that face honey trade in Africa.
2007.
Bees for Development's perception is that the potential of apiculture to bring significant economic development and hence poverty alleviation to Africa, is not yet being achieved. Thousands of poor beekeeper-farmers in Africa have the means and knowledge
At the meeting in Arusha it was decided that the new organisation would 2 the form of a Network. Membership will be open to any registered vuilpany or producer association which shares Apilrade Africa's overall
objective of promoting the African honey trade, and meets certain standards in terms of ethical business practice. The membership application procedure has not yet been finalised but interested stakeholders are advised to keep reading this Journal in order to stay up to date with progress.
to harvest honey from bees, yet lack access to reliable markets. The main purpose of the Workshop was therefore to discuss issues
surrounding trade in African honey, and ways to increase trade for
beekeepers. Programme themes: hearing from honey importers; the international honey market; EU requirements; producing fair trade honey and meeting fair trade standards; honey tasting and
The motivation for the Apitrade Africa Network is the understanding that the potential of the apiculture industry in Africa is far from being realised. The aims of the Network are to promote African honey, address
exhibition; producing organic honey and meeting organic Standards; producer associations and supply chain development: and appropriate interventions = better returns. All the papers
barriers that hinder access to wider markets, and ultimately unlock the potential of the apiculture industry to benefit people in Africa.
presented in these sessions are given here. Also included are the opening speeches made by The Honourable First Lady of Uganda, Mrs Janet Museveni, MP and other dignitaries, with an overview of
Apitrade Africa's first exposure to the international community will be the Apimondia International Apicultural Congress taking place in Melbourne, Australia in September 2007 (see page 8). At this event different African honeys will be presented as speciality honeys
Uganda's apiculture sector provided by Dr Nicholas Kauta, plus contact details of participants.
originating from natural and uncontaminated environments. Promotional information will be prepared in a robust effort to convince international
During the Workshop there were periods where participants formed groups to consider specific issues more closely. Their discussions were taken on board in plans for the creation of the new
yers that African honeys, though little known outside Africa, have vncellent flavours and are of top quality.
Association, now named Apilrade Africa (see left). The Minutes of the Association’s meetings and Statement of Establishment are
Bees for Development would like to thank the Tanzanian Forestry and Beekeeping Division for their kind hospitality in hosting the Arusha meeting, and for providing highly efficient logistical support. 4
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The Proceedings can be accessed on our website, however the files are large. This CD provides the complete information from the
Workshop. See also Proceedings of the First Honey Trade Workshop (VID41). These contain more details about EU accreditation, and information from other continents. For a summary and assessment of the situation of African honey trade, we recommend that you read the
article published in B/D Journal 81, pages 2-5. Each CD costs 10 €15. Details on how to order see page 15
The ApiTrade Africa Task Force in Arusha, Tanzania, February
2007
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