Beekeeping, known as apiculture, is set to transform the lives of several households in different parts of Manicaland, where extensive apiculture is underway, using modern technology.
Report by Obey Manayiti Staff Reporter
Recently, villagers in Domborutinhira in Mutasa, received $60 000 worth of material from the British Embassy as a way of boosting production of honey, wax and several other products of beekeeping.
A local environmental watchdog, Environmental Africa, initiated the beekeeping projects in Chimanimani, Mutasa and Vumba and the receipt of modern materials funded by the British Embassy is set to increase production.
Before receiving the project paraphernalia — modern hives, smokers, bee suits, gumboots, buckets and liners — villagers used traditional beehives and other risky materials in bee farming. The traditional hives also promoted deforestation as the villagers would randomly chop down trees to carve the hives.
Before the modern tools, villagers would use smoke to control bees but the fire would occasionally spread uncontrollably, destroying forests.
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Although many regard beekeeping as a dangerous enterprise because bees can sting people, in Mutasa and other parts of Manicaland people consider bees as friendly and will keep as many hives as possible — sometimes up to 20 per household.
One of the beekeepers, Abraham Chikukwa, has been engaged in the practice since childhood.
The business, he said, has been so lucrative that he has been able to provide for his family through the earnings from beekeeping.
“I am now able to pay school fees for my children and buy food for my family,” he said. “Beekeeping started as a hobby in childhood, but now it is a business through which I am providing for my family.”
Chikukwa described apiculture a safe project and there had never been any nasty encounters with bees in the line of duty. “In fact, my children have befriended the bees,” he remarked.
When Environment Africa initiated the beekeeping project in several parts of Manicaland, the environmental watchdog was seeking to uplift the communities in a unique way.
Besides honey, apiculture produces wax which is mainly used for making candles. The candles made from such wax are considered as a repellant against mosquitoes and in malaria-infested district of Mutasa, people use such candles to fight malaria.
To a greater extent, apiculture increases pollination of trees and hence increase in vegetation in respective communities where projects are underway.
Several people in Domborutinhira are being hired to provide hives in apple plantations in Nyanga, as a way of increasing chances of pollination.
Environment Africa’s Country director Barnabas Mawire said apiculture projects were paying off in several communities where they introduced the scheme.
“We had sought to empower several communities through a unique way of beekeeping.
“The projects are paying off and this donation by the British Embassy will go a long way in increasing production of honey and many other different by-products,” explained Mawire.
Several other people said they were looking forward to give back to their community.
Members of the Domborutinhira Beekeeping Project have agreed to give back to the community through upgrading the local school.
“We set aside $500 for that and we will do the same to the clinic after some time,” said 25-year-old Rangarirai Makaza.
“For many unemployed youths like us, we have something to occupy ourselves with and also to look after our parents.
“I hope people will buy our products and we would like to produce honey for export, so that our country gets revenue out of beekeeping.”
In Chimanimani, the beekeeping project is in full swing with a fully equipped factory to process and package honey. Another member of the beekeeping project in Bumba community, Mwanasa Mutsakani, said beekeepers in his area were making a positive impact to the whole community.
He said he hoped to exhibit at the forthcoming Manicaland Agricultural Show.
He appealed to stakeholders, including the government, to chip in and help them with identifying and establishing markets.
Another beekeeping project in Mudzimu village in Hurungwe has inspired the community to conserve its forests. The initiative was started by the Agriculture for Sustainable Development, a non-governmental organisation in the area.
“We have also started taking more care of our forests because this is where the bees live and build their natural hives,” Arnold Guzha, chairperson of the Mudzimu Beekeeping Group, was quoted saying.
“Our lives are changing for the better.We share the income among group members and also assist widows and old people in our village.”
Part of the proceeds goes towards investing in more beehives and buying needed materials for the business. The group was looking forward to finding more markets for their honey.
One beehive has the potential of producing 50 bottles of honey, which is sold at $2 each. The group currently has 20 beehives.