Based on a report
by Sibonangabo Sikhondze, Livestock Coordinator (LUSLM), Aaron Dlamini,
Ministry of Agriculture extension Officer, Sandile Mkhabela, bee keeper and
Magman Mahlalela, Communications student (University of Swaziland)
Smallholder farmers in Vikizijula Chiefdom, in the east of
Swaziland, are turning to beekeeping as a new income-generating activity. The
project is part of the Lower Usuthu Small Holder Irrigation Project of the
Global Environmental Facility (LUSIP-GEF, which is financed by IFAD and the
Global Environment Facility, and implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and
the Swaziland Water and Agricultural Development Enterprise.
Before the project, the community faced poverty,
unemployment and drought. This led to many young people moving away from the Chiefdom
in search of employment leaving families divided and a lack of people able to
carry out hard manual labour.
The project covers both practical and theoretical aspects
such as hive construction and honey processing. The keepers also receive raw
materials to construct beehives and other resources such as protective
clothing.
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| Essential items for beekeeping |
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| Locally made hive promoted by the project |
Following
the training the farmers were responsible for the beekeeping with regular
supervision by project staff and a refresher course every three months.
Results
Starting in 2011, the project now involves roughly 600 beekeepers
and their families in the community. The results have been encouraging. Community members have been able to raise
household income and improve their food security. Working together the project
has also brought the community closer together, dispelling the local myth ''you
cannot live with bees, but must destroy them'',
and ensuring bees are no longer an overlooked ecosystem service.
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A sweeter future for the youth of rural
Swaziland
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A truly family affair with children helping with the
practical work and the record keeping
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The people of Vikizijula Chiefdom now refer to the bees as the' insect of
hope'. The bees have created income from goods such as honey, which in turn
contributes to school fees and home improvements for families in the community.
The average income per hive is USD 30 per harvest.
Harvesting is done 4 times per season (which lasts for 4 months) with roughly 15
hives per household. This gives an average of USD 1 500 per household per
season.
“Bees are not just a business to me, they are my life. I
have been able to process and sell honey by-products such as floor polish and
candles from the bees wax. We share the experiences learnt from this business
with other families around the community. This has improved the income of my
family and my community,” says beekeeper Mrs Thandi Mkhabela.
As beekeeping expands into other communities, it is creating
a thriving economy. There are now specialist businesses established for the
keepers such as beehive constructors and protective clothing tailors.
Together the community has overcome challenges such as
beehive theft and stigma around bees themselves (traditionally they are
associated with witchcraft) by forming the Honey Council. This council consists
of one representative elected from each community to look at threats and issues
that keepers might be facing. It provides a platform for the keepers to ask any
questions or voice concerns they were facing as well as share knowledge with
other beekeepers.
Success in this project has
been attributed to several factors. Firstly beekeeping does not require much
start-up capital, secondly it can be managed by children as young as twelve,
the elderly and women. Thirdly, beekeeping has brought the community together.
Struggling beekeepers were assisted by others to overcome challenges. The bees
taught the community that if they work together they can fight poverty and
hunger. It is the willingness and cooperation of the community in the Vikizijula
Chiefdom that ultimately made the project a success.
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