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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]

FARMERS from Montrose in Insiza District, Matabeleland South Province, have embarked on a beekeeping project aimed at manufacturing and processing various honey-based products for the market.

The initiative, which has 27 members, is set to enhance livelihoods and promote climate resilience in the community.
Having received basic training in beekeeping, the farmers have established an apiary with several beehives set up outside one of the members’ homesteads. They have also mounted multiple bee catcher boxes in the surrounding bush to attract colonies.

Once full-scale honey production begins, they plan to process and diversify their products, tapping into the growing demand for natural honey-based goods.

The project falls under the Building Climate Resilience of Vulnerable Agricultural Livelihoods in Southern Zimbabwe programme, supported by the Government with technical and management assistance from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

The programme aims to strengthen climate resilience in agricultural communities by equipping them with resources, training, and support to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.
Chairperson of the Montrose beekeeping group, Mr Leonard Skapene, said the project started in November last year and is poised to address a critical gap in the local honey industry.

“There is a huge market for beekeeping, and we want to be a part of it. The GCF project has empowered us by providing essential start-up materials, including 10 beehives, five catcher boxes, and beekeeping kits.
“Initially, water shortages hindered the colonisation of our boxes, but with the recent rains, we have seen significant improvement,” he said.

Mr Skapene said the team is actively using catcher boxes placed in the bush to attract and relocate bees to their main apiary.
Ms Memory Mpofu, one of the project members, said their long-term vision is to scale up production and venture into honey processing.

“We have undergone training not only in beekeeping but also in business management. Our goal is to expand by acquiring more beehives and learning how to process honey into value-added products. Honey is not just food, it has medicinal and cosmetic benefits as well,” she said.

Ms Mpofu said the project has the potential to transform their lives.
“This initiative will help us send our children to school, put food on our tables, and reduce reliance on aid. As farmers, we have realised that we should explore multiple income streams instead of solely depending on crop and livestock farming. That’s why we have embraced apiculture,” she said.

Montrose village head, Mr Benjamin Ncube, commended the initiative and urged communities to utilise locally available resources for economic empowerment.

“It is encouraging to see farmers being innovative and proactive. More communities need to be educated on how to sustainably utilise natural resources for long-term benefits,” he said.

UNDP climate-smart agriculture expert, Dr Nelson Chanza, said apiculture has been identified as one of the key climate-smart agricultural practices under the GCF programme.

“This enterprise involves the rearing of bees for the production of honey and other related products. Beyond the honey apiculture also offers numerous benefits, both ecological and social, economic,” he said.
“For example, we realise pollination services from bees will lead to improved crop yields and fruits. Honey also has nutritional and health benefits. We also realise environmental benefits in terms of biodiversity conservation.”

Dr Chanza said supporting farmers in apiculture helps to improve environmental consciousness on how to manage their forests, and their trees for sustainable land use as they bring value.

He said beekeeping requires relatively low capital investment compared to other agricultural enterprises. Under the project, they procured apiary kits and set up demonstration sites in each district where the initiative is being implemented, allowing other farmers to learn and gain hands-on experience.

Dr Chanza said both extension officers and farmers have received training in setting up apiaries, honey processing, marketing, and business planning.

“Through this project, we are giving the farmers more options to consider and sustainable coping practices that farmers can adopt in the face of climate change,” he said. — @DubeMatutu.