African Beekeeping Information Portal

This service is made possible with financial support from two donors:
The Wales for Africa Fund of the Welsh Assembly Government
Richard Rowse and Brian Butcher, by way of the Rowse Family Trust
We much appreciate this support

African honey bees

African honey bees belong to the species Apis mellifera, the same species that is indigenous to Europe and the Middle East.  In tropical  Africa, the bees have evolved to suit the prevailing habitat and climate.  For information about managing and keeping bees in Africa go to the Information Portal.

Natural honey

In many parts of Africa the system of honey bee management is close to a natural system.  Honey bee populations are healthy and the harvested bee products are free from residues of medicinces used to maintin bee health. In some markets these natural and clean products can fetch high prices. However, accessing distant markets requires supply chains and infrastructure which are missing in many parts of Africa. A new African honey trade network ApiTrade Africa has set out to address some of the problems and help beekeepers  to reach new markets.

Export to the EU

The EU honey market is demanding in terms of regulation and certification. Only countries which have prepared acceptable Residue Monitoring Plans are allowed to export their honey to the EU. The list changes every year.

June 2010 Countries in Africa from which honey may be imported to the EU:

Cameroon, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia

Beeswax

Most beekeepers in tropical Africa do not re-use honey comb (because most do not use frame hives), and harvest beeswax and honey together. This means that Africa is a leading beeswax exporter. For some beekeepers in Africa, beeswax is their primary product and honey a secondary product. Because African beekeepers do not use chemicals in their hives, their beeswax is clean and in high demand.

News from Africa

• Cameroon beekeepers brainstorm on policies to develop apiculture click here for story
• Cameroon is the most recent African country to be eligible to export honey to the EU click here for story
• Research in Zambia, important results click here to read the news from the CIFOR Dry Forest Project
• Zambian project reaches the finals click here to vote and for further information
• Zambian beekeepers to sweeten their profits click here for story
• Beefence deters elephants in Kenya click here for story
• Zambia plans to increase honey production click here for story
• Honey production in Zambia click here for story
• First all-Africa honey show in Uganda click here for story