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Apitrade Africa

Apitrade Africa is a regional network focussing on developing the apiculture sector in Africa. Apitrade Africa has a secretariat in Kampala and members from more than ten African countries.

The objectives of Apitrade Africa are to:

• promote African bee products in the markets
• promote supply of quality bee products
• address barriers to market access
• ensure good practices and conduct among members
• lobby to build a competitive beekeeping industry in Africa
• facilitate networking among members and other stakeholders

Background

Apiculture has the potential to bring significant economic development, and hence poverty alleviation, to Africa. However, this potential is not yet being fully realised.  Thousands of poor beekeeper-farmers in Africa have the means and knowledge to harvest honey from bees, yet lack access to reliable markets. Following the success of Bees for Development's first Honey Trade Workshop, which took place in August 2005 as part of our DFID/BLCF Project on African Honey, we organised a second African Honey Trade Workshop in October 2006 with sponsorship from Rowse Honey Ltd. The purpose of the workshops was to discuss issues surrounding trade in African honey and ways to increase trade to benefit beekeepers. As a consequence Apitrade Africa was established.  Apitrade Africa is a membership association formed to increase trade in African bee products by addressing market access constraints and supporting marketing initiatives.

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