Help 65 poor women to start Beekeeping in Uganda

Soil Health and Climate Action Network (SHCAN) conducted a honey harvesting activity with farmers involved in beekeeping in the project area. The purpose of the activity was to assess the performance of the beehives and support farmers in harvesting honey and other hive products.

During the harvesting exercise, farmers experienced significant challenges. Most farmers harvested very small quantities of honey, while a considerable amount of the harvested wax contained bee larvae. This affected the quantity and quality of honey that could be collected for consumption or sale.

Key Findings

The following observations were made during the honey harvesting exercise:

• Most farmers harvested very little honey compared to their expectations.
• A significant amount of the combs contained bee larvae, making them unsuitable for extracting mature honey.
• Farmers had expected higher honey yields from their hives, but the harvest results were generally low.

Challenges Identified

Low Honey Production

The major challenge was the low quantity of honey harvested from the hives. Farmers reported that the amount collected was much lower than anticipated.

Harvesting of Brood Combs

Some farmers harvested combs that contained bee larvae. This suggests that the timing or identification of harvestable honeycombs may have been a challenge. Harvesting brood combs can also interfere with the development of the bee colony.

Limited Knowledge of Proper Harvesting

The findings indicate a need to strengthen farmers' knowledge of how to identify mature honey before harvesting. Farmers need to distinguish between honey-storage combs and brood combs containing eggs, larvae and developing bees.

Possible Weaknesses in Hive Management

The low honey yields may also be associated with hive management factors such as colony strength, availability of forage, hive location, seasonal conditions, pests and diseases, and the age or condition of the colonies.

Impact on Farmers

The low harvest has affected farmers in several ways:

• Reduced expected income from honey sales.
• Limited quantities of honey available for household consumption.
• Reduced availability of quality beeswax for processing and sale.
• Risk of weakening bee colonies when brood combs are harvested.
• Discouragement among farmers due to low returns from beekeeping.

Recommendations

To address the challenges identified, the following actions are recommended:

1. Provide practical training on honey harvesting so farmers can identify mature and capped honey before harvesting.
2. Train farmers to distinguish brood combs from honey combs and avoid harvesting combs containing eggs or larvae.
3. Strengthen hive management practices, including regular inspection of colonies and monitoring of pests and diseases.
4. Promote harvesting at the appropriate time when sufficient honey has matured and been capped by the bees.
5. Assess colony strength and hive conditions before the next harvesting exercise.
6. Monitor forage availability around apiaries and encourage farmers to protect or establish flowering plants that provide nectar and pollen.
7. Conduct follow-up visits to farmers to provide technical guidance and monitor colony development.
8. Record harvest quantities per hive to help SHCAN and farmers assess production trends and identify factors affecting yield.

SHCAN will prioritize practical beekeeper training and follow-up monitoring to help farmers improve honey production while protecting the health and strength of their bee colonies. With improved management and appropriate harvesting practices, farmers can increase honey yields and improve the economic benefits of beekeeping.