Beekeepers for Life, Empowering 1300 Uganda Women

About the activity and methodology  

The activity focused at equipping the trainees/beekeepers with knowledge in basic apiary and hive best management basic practices and skills. It also looked at equipping them with value addition skills on honey and other honeybee hive products. The training aimed at ensuring that members gain knowledge and management skills for increased production, improved incomes and livelihoods.

Trainees were taken through topics like; setting up a good apiary, apiary and bee management, harvesting and extracting quality honey, keeping apiary/hive records, how to harvest and process quality beeswax, and value addition on beeswax to make different products

The methodology involved classroom facilitation and hand on practice. After the classroom facilitation, the trainees where give chance to practically try out some skills.

What went well?

A reasonable number of group members turned up for the training with enthusiasm to learn new ideas and skills

The trainees demonstrated strong interest in and commitment to Beekeeping. They actively participated in the training activities and were very much cooperative and supportive

The training was timely and provided solutions to the apiary/hive management problems the groups has been facing

What didn’t go well?

Some members didn’t turn up for the training. It’s assumed that they lost interest in the Beekeeping project

The practical part on value addition was limited. We didn’t do much on the practical part of value addition due to lack of equipment and material

The group has some harvested honey but they lack packaging materials to enable them sale their honey

Under budget estimates on feeding/ training welfare of the trainees. The cost of food items has almost doubled

What can we improve upon?

Interest the inactive members to actively start participating in group activities

Organize a more practical training on value addition. Source for the required equipment and materials

Readjust the budget to able cater for the meals of participants

Followed the drawn action points for improvement (Apiary clearing and hive repair and cleaning, Routine Apiary and hive inspection)  

SCOEN TEAM

The project provides education and technical advice on beekeeping and relevant business skills by setting up and supporting field extension services. Training courses are also run for local beekeepers and finance trainers.  As a  organization, support can be given to beekeepers and their families wherever poverty defines need.

This groups are managed by designated, unpaid, project managers and run within a group structure. Project Managers design them to become self-funding small businesses after a defined period of time.

SCOEN uses funds for the relief of poverty and this is overseen by the trustees. Projects are bound by the legal, charitable requirement to reach the poorest sectors of society ensuring that projects can be sustainable. A group cannot depend on continued funds from outside the area or on one person’s hard work.

SCOEN promotes and supports projects that use affordable, appropriate techniques and equipment.

Objective of the review visits

After a long period of no active engagement and support to the Beekeepers groups from Bees Abroad, there was need to conduct group review visit;

• To understand the status (existing or closed) of the Beekeeping groups.
• To find out whether the groups are still willing to implement beekeeping activities,
• To capture the current challenges groups are facing and
• To learn the current activities being carried out

Review visit methodology and Approach

We employed ta few review methods and approaches which included;

• Meeting group Executive Committee members
• Sharing experiences, and discussion
• Observation

Review tool

The tool looked at capturing information on the following areas;

Existence of the group (active or closed), Active and inactive members, Active executive committee, Interest to continue working with SCOEN, Current Beekeeping activities, Other current group activities, status of apiaries (number of installed hive, number of colonized hives, colonized hives, absconded hives), group achievements in the last 12 months, challenges being faced, plan for the next 12 months, current needs of the group.

General observations

• Both groups are still existing with active members and leadership. Some small fraction of members are inactive especially for Bukaleba
• They still have interest in Beekeeping activities and they are expectant of Bess Abroad support
• -       There is a drop in production due to lack of close monitoring and support from Bees Abroad

Recommendations

• There is need for refresher and value addition training
• Continued support and close monitoring/ performance review will help the groups stay focused on the project
• Motivate groups by supporting them to acquire hives and other beekeeping equipment and tools

Regards,

SCOEN TEAM