September 1, 2017 Beekeeping Success Story

By Desalegne Tadesse (icipe)

ICIPE and Beekeeping

Legends in Tolay

Food security and poverty reduction

are the most dominating global

agenda and the national priority of

Ethiopia. Likewise, the icipe

researches and reports revealed that

the role of beekeeping is becoming

an increasingly pivotal and integral

component to achieve inclusive

transformation and growth across the

rural community that leads to

ensuring food security.

INTERNATIONAL CENTRE OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY (icipe)

BEEKEEPING SUCCESS STORIES IN TOLAY

ICIPE/BIOVISION TOLAY BEEKEPEING PROJECT OBJECTIVES

• Scaling up

beekeeping

technology for better

income and

pollination

• Establishing

beekeepers union

and honey value

chain development

• Developing

infrastructure for

hone processing and

market center

• Providing capacity

building on queen

rearing, royal jelly

production, organic

honey testing and

processing

“icipe, opens our eyes.

Only this year, more than

3000kg honey collected in

our market place. “, Kedija

Diga, beekeeper and

honey saleswoman

I N T E R N A T I O N A L C E N T R E O F I N S E C T P H Y S I O L O G Y A N D E C O L O G Y ( I C I P E )

International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology

(icipe) and Biovision joined their efforts to address this

national as well as global agenda through boosting

the Apiculture development in Tolay, south western

Oromia region of Ethiopia.

The beekeeping project, brings solutions that reduce

poverty, while safeguarding ecosystems and

economies. The project improves the livelihoods of

more than 800 unemployed and landless people by

turning the traditional beekeeping practices into

sustainable business.

Several activities and the outcomes of the project

were reviewed by national and local implementing

partners. Subsequently, the implementation of the

project became a pioneer model generating

multiple benefits and scaling out to over 10 villages.

Initiatives are also coming out to replicate the project

across the country. This is one of the greatest impact

of the project. This report glances the glory of success

stories from beekeeping project that makes Tolay the

“the source of organic honey”. It demonstrates how

the icipe and partners have been dedicated to

introducing the beekeeping technologies and their

benefits for farming society in the region.

ICIPE’S 4Hs PARADIGM IN TOLAY

Though icipe is inspired by Tolay’s huge potential

for honey value chain development, its

intervention is not limited to beekeeping, but also

bringing together its 4H Science Paradigm: Human

Health, Animal Health, Plant Health and

Environmental Health. In the area, the icipe

commenced with Tsetse Fly control operation that

responds to Animal Health. This happened in 2006.

The beekeeping project was launched in 2011 to

respond to the environmental health challenges

and economic needs. Human Health challenges

addressed by the integrated vector management

(IVM) project that helps to control the transmission

of malaria, and the introduction of Push-Pull

technology to control stemborers & striga which

badly affect maize for the Plant Health Theme.

Thus, Tolay is a legendary place that converges the

four models in the beekeeping project operating

area.

Picture: well established apiary sites and the landscape of Tolay

I N T E R N A T I O N A L C E N T R E O F I N S E C T P H Y S I O L O G Y A N D E C O L O G Y ( I C I P E )

Shferaw Driba, Boter

Borro district

administrator, is among

the key respondents

witnessing icipe’s

contribution in the area.

He said, “Any dwellers

in this district can

explain icipe and this project more than what I am

saying.” Shiferaw continues, from the beginning to

current state, icipe did outstanding activities in

apiculture development and other related

interventions, such as: Push-Pull technology, malaria

control, etc. Accordingly, on behalf of the district

administration and the people, I honour to thank

icipe for those astonishing achievements.”

BEEKEEPING INSPIRATIONS

Partners and beneficiaries continue to applaud the

outcomes of the project. The increasing demands

of people to join is a clear indication how the

project is going well and translated into impacts.

Among other things, sustainable market linkage

and organic certification of Tolay Natural Honey

are results of groundbreaking transformation of the

project. In line with this, Kedija Diga, sales woman in

the Tolay Natural Honey Market Center, said:

“icipe, is our eye opener. A few years back, we

didn’t know about modern beekeeping and it was

unthinkable the participation of women in such

kind of business. Now, traditional practices and

gender disparities have been broken with the help

of icipe.”

▪ Scaling up apiculture development

In Tolay, the project began with a small number of

unemployed and landless people, but it is now

scaling out to over 800

direct beneficiaries in 10

villages. “This improvement

could not happen without

strong collaborative efforts.

We are working closely with local, national, regional

and international partners to leverage the broader

scientific expertise and to find beekeeping solutions

together. So, we are mindful of the impact we have

on livelihoods of the farming community and the

environment through improving apiculture

development,” Luseged Belayhun, project

manager, said.

Shiferaw Driba, district administrator shares this

argument: “This project showed us a bright future. It

is designed in a way that fits into regional and

national priorities. We recognized the project as a

pioneer in supporting the national agenda

intending to ensure our food security. Therefore, we

want to replicate these greatest achievements

across the whole region.”

Records also indicate that several people are

requesting to join in the membership of the

beekeepers’ associations.

▪ Value chain development solutions

Value chain development is one of the core values

of the beekeeping project and several other icipe

projects. To transform the traditional beekeeping

practices into a sustainable and commercial

subsector, essential supports (inputs supply,

technical, capacity building, market linkages and

infrastructure development for honey processing)

are being provided.

International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe)

icipe built infrastructure equipped with necessary

facilities, such as offices, laboratories, storage,

processing and packaging rooms, show rooms,

and market place.

icipe also became instrumental in qualifying

organic testing and certification of the beekeeping

product which in turn led to quality improvements.

It helps strengthening sectors that closely work with

the beekeepers, such as unions and cooperatives

to create sustainable market opportunities, and

enhancing linkages between honey producers and

processor groups and local and international

buyers.

Transforming the practice of honey production

from traditional to modern, the products and

benefits are increased. This helps to drive livelihood

changes for both direct and indirect beneficiaries.

Now the farmers are producing quality honey and

getting significant incomes. Further the practice of

consuming healthy honey for food increases in the

area.

As Mr. Sileshi Betru, the manager of market place

says, Tolay Natural honey is well known by its best

quality and organic certification. “We expanded

our networks and destinations participating

regularly in Trade fairs and Exhibitions, organized at

national and international levels. Doing so, we

received the certification of excellence award as

the 3rd best honey during ApiExpo Africa in 2012.

Recently, we participated in the 9th Ethiopia AGRO

& FOOD Expo held in May 2016 and in the Oromia

Cooperative Exhibition held from 14-21 July 2017 at

Debrezeit.”

Mr. Sileshi added: “Our center accounts for 25-30%

of the honey production in Oromia region. icipe is

the main stimulator in facilitating sustainable

market linkages and infrastructures. Tolay Natural

Honey and the beekeepers don’t have market

problems and they could produce even more

honey. There is no way for the producers to go far

and spend their time in searching markets. This

year, the market place collected 3350kg.

Nevertheless, this doesn’t show the total honey

production, because the beekeepers produce

more but do not supply it all.” He continues

explaining his impressions: “I know several farmers

changed their lives because of beekeeping, for

instance very recently only one farmer supplied up

to 200kg, which earns around 20,000 birr (1000USD).

He may get the same amount of money in October

and June. So, beekeeping has more comparative

advantage than farming and some other

businesses.”

International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe)

Henceforth, icipe maintains the momentum of the

value chain development in the apiculture sub-

sector by providing support and resources needed

to establish successful enterprises and linkages to

the market.

▪ Food Security

Biovision funded the icipe

beekeeping project in Tolay which

also significantly contributed to

ensuring food and nutrition security.

The project makes the area notable

and unique in the production and

consumption of quality honey. Nearly

25 percent of the total honey

production remain at beekeepers’

home for consumption.

▪ Economic benefits: From zero to

economic hero

“icipe and Biovision are

our economic liberators”,

Nasir Degefa, Wayu,

beekeepers’ association

chairman, explaining the

economic benefits of the

beekeeping. According to Nasir, all the association

members had no job before the introduction of this

project. He quit his education due to lack of

money, but now returned to school after 16 years

to continue his study. This year, his association

produced 900kg (15kg honey from each 60 hives)

at every harvest.

Beneficiaries from other associations also echoed

similarly. The economic outcomes of the project

reflected in different indicators. Several members of

the beekeepers’ association produce quality

honey and accumulated assets. They transformed

their way of life from Tuklu to modern houses, able

to send their children to school, to buy necessary

goods and do side business.

Shalema Etana, is among the top scorer of honey

producers from Kemiso Gola village. He supplied

200kg to the market center and earned around

Picture: Mr. Sileshi showing the award certificate the Tolay Natural Honey received because of icipe

International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe)

20,000 Ethiopian Birr (ETB). He has 11 modern hives

and bought the honey extractor with 6000 birr to

improve honey quality and to produce wax.

In addition, many beneficiaries engaged in

different businesses; these included workshops

(metal and wood work), transportation services,

fattening and some others expanded their farming

by renting land. Those practicing farming, were

able to pay back their debts for fertilizers from the

sales of bee products.

All respondents said the beekeeping introduced by

icipe/Biovision is the base for their livelihood

changes. The successes of the project remain

printed in the memory of beneficiaries and all the

dwellers of the district.

▪ Beekeeping and Gender

icipe is notably known by its evidence-based

research products and tools, facilitating learning,

strengthening

capacity building

and uptake. It is also

aspiring to

encourage the

participation of

women and

unemployed in the apicultural development. To

this end, the project integrates gender across its

activities to create more opportunities for females

and address challenges to existing attitudes and

practices that perpetuate gender inequalities in

the beekeeping value chain.

Zeinetu Yesuf from Wayu beekeepers’ association

says, some years back honey production was not

seen as socially acceptable for women. “At the

beginning of the project, there was only one

women involved. Currently, out of 800 members,

250 are women. Now things have changed, and

we are doing beekeeping well. The support from

this project enables us to capitalize our efforts and

helping us to change our livelihoods.”

Picture: the beekeepers on technical and site trainings

International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe)

▪ Environmental benefits

Pollination by bees and some multiple benefits of

Apiculture are pro-environment. It demands more

bee forage plantation and conservation of the

environment, and provides an alternative income

to the sale of forest products.

As Nesiru said, when the Wayu beekeepers’

association handed over the land from the district

administration in 2011, there was no tree in their

apiary sites. They established by law to commence

their operation through planting trees. Since then,

the team planted 900 trees and transformed the

sites into a forest within a short period of time, which

created a conducive environment for agricultural

development. They drilled wells to improve access

to water for the dry season. Furthermore, the

association also produce Maize on the site during

the rainy season. This implies that the contribution

of icipe is not limited to beekeeping, but also

providing opportunities for crop production, and

environmental protection.

▪ Infrastructure development and

capacity building

icipe has been investing in infrastructure

development and capacity building to maintain

the momentum of the apiculture development and

improve the livelihoods of the community. Under

the infrastructure development package, icipe

built modern buildings to accommodate research

and other different facilities. The buildings are

equipped with laboratories, offices, honey storage

and processing unit, display and sales rooms.

The capacity building component is among the

most important achievements of the project. So far,

the beekeepers received several trainings on hive

making, queer rearing, royal jelly production, honey

processing, testing, packaging and business

development skills.

icipe’s mandate further extends to conserving and utilising the rich insect biodiversity found in Africa. It contributes to

sustainable food security through establishment of insect based enterprises, such as apiculture, that are sustainable,

eco-friendly and synergistic, and that provide quick economic rewards to communities living in the forest areas. The

underlying principle is to assist rural resource-poor communities to improve their livelihood, and to protect the natural

environment, thus increasing the productivity and resilience of their farming systems and the natural resources, through

uptake of these techniques.

Tolay, is the beekeeping project area located in Oromiya Regional State of Ethiopia, 243km South –West of Addis

Ababa having great potential for quality honey production. The project is funded by BVF and implemented by icipe

in 10 villages in collaboration with the Oromiya Regional Bureau of Agriculture.

Picture: apiary site established by Wayu beekeeper’s association