Safeguard Bees and Beekeepers in Madagascar

The last quarter has brought both encouraging progress and significant challenges for the beekeeping project. Three months of savings deposits are now complete across the six savings groups, with 79% of beekeepers actively contributing. Even more encouraging, 76% of those participants saved at least twice, indicating that strong saving habits are beginning to take hold.

On the environmental side, the bee forage planted after January’s fires is being carefully monitored to track germination and survival rates. This data will guide decisions for the next planting season. Eucalyptus seedlings are showing a healthy 75% survival rate, a crucial step toward restoring forage and strengthening future colony health.

The project has also faced major setbacks. Tropical Storm Jude damaged 54 older hives, leading to colony abscondment. Then, in June, a government-led helicopter pesticide spray; launched in response to a locust swarm and without warning to communities, caused the death of 117 bee colonies.

In response, SEED has held constructive discussions with the local ministry, urging them to provide advance notice of any future pesticide applications so beekeepers can protect their hives. At the same time, the team is developing a colony-restoration strategy to address losses from both the storm and the pesticide incident.

Despite these difficulties, the overall picture is one of resilience and steady progress. The strong participation in savings groups, combined with promising habitat-restoration indicators, shows that beekeepers remain committed and that the project’s long-term goals are on track. Continued monitoring, engagement with government partners, and the forthcoming restoration strategy will help safeguard livelihoods and ensure that both the economic and environmental foundations of the project remain strong in the months ahead.

Thank you so much for your continued support