A buzzworthy learning experience
Blog by Rejoice, Clara and Florence
Posted: 29 February 2024
Bees for Development Ghana (BfDG) is giving intensive training to three young women, Clara, Rejoice and Florence, to become Professional Women Beekeeper Trainers. They will work as extension agents, serving as role models and creating opportunities for women to earn income through sustainable beekeeping.
The second field learning and experience phase took place in cashew farming communities of Techiman and Tuna. We spent three weeks in January 2024 assessing operations of beekeeping groups in these two agricultural landscapes. In Techiman, we evaluated two beekeeping projects implemented by BfDG in 2017: Bees, Cashew and Livelihoods and Buzz Clubs.
We spent time with Offuman and Bono Manso women beekeeping groups, Boabeng Beekeepers' Association, and two Buzz Clubs. We appraised Koase and Offuman Buzz clubs and recommended improvements. We met amazing and hardworking women, practicing beekeeping to improve their livelihoods and they now manage their own apiaries. Lucy, the leader of the Offuman group, is a skilled beekeeper and manages twenty colonies. She has used income from beekeeping and cashew farming to support three of her children to tertiary level education. Naomi, the leader of the Bono Manso group, manages six colonies and sells her honey in well-packaged containers. She recently built a kitchen with the income from beekeeping.
We interacted with Master beekeepers, beneficiaries of the Cashew, Bees and Livelihood Project. They support cashew farmers in Techiman to integrate beekeeping into cashew farming for improved pollination and higher cashew nuts yield. As a result, the farmers now earn extra from beekeeping. We experienced honey harvesting, colony transfer and hanging and removing occupied swarm boxes with Master Beekeeper, Stephen Adu. Stephen is actively involved in recruiting, training, and mentoring the youths to become successful beekeepers.
The buzzing experience at Tuna was superb and mind-blowing. We met a philanthropist and an industrious woman – Lucilla Dayuori, who together with twenty-nine other women had received beekeeping training 12 years ago. Lucilla has trained additional women and currently there are six beekeeping groups in Tuna. Interestingly, the husbands of the women beekeepers are now beekeepers, they became motivated by the income their wives earn from honey sales. We processed honey and beeswax, beeswax candles and honey wine.
The experiences were undoubtedly great, as recounted below:
Clara said: ‘The trip was an eye-opener. I left Tuna feeling extremely inspired to do more, not just beekeeping, to make life better for others, especially women.’
Florence noted: ‘Each moment in both communities was awesome. I am empowered to transform lives and the beekeeping landscape.’
Rejoice recounts: ‘The Techiman-Tuna experience was a great exposure, as I experienced beekeeping from a different ecological landscape. Stephen and Lucilla’s passion towards beekeeping were great inspirations to me.’
