Why University Beekeeping Education Matters

Meet Edwin

Beekeeping goes beyond just collecting honey. It plays an important role in supporting people’s livelihoods, preserving forests, ensuring the pollination of crops, and creating business opportunities throughout the honey industry.

At Mzuzu University, I teach Apiculture to students studying forestry. My job involves both classroom instruction and hands-on fieldwork, helping students gain the skills needed to start careers and businesses in Malawi’s growing honey industry.

Learning Beyond the Classroom

The course includes topics like bee biology, managing beehives, dealing with pests and diseases, harvesting and processing honey, ensuring quality, and understanding the economic aspects. Students get practical experience in building hives, raising queen bees, managing colonies, and adding value to honey. They also visit commercial beehive sites and processing facilities, which helps them understand the real-world challenges of the industry. Our aim is to train graduates who can run their own businesses, assist farmers, and contribute to the development of Malawi’s apiculture sector.

Image above: Edwin Hara and Lenson Simumba

Why It Matters for Malawi

Since 80% of Malawians rely on farming, beekeeping provides a low-cost way to earn income and helps people cope during difficult times. It also helps protect forests; communities take care of trees and prevent fires to ensure that bees have enough food, and in return, bees help maintain the health of the forests. This benefits both people and the environment.

Opportunities for Students

Graduates have various career options, including working in commercial beekeeping, honey processing, equipment manufacturing, consultancy, and jobs with government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private companies. Many of them already offer technical support to beekeepers in the field.

Support Needed

Hands-on training is essential. We need a well-equipped honey processing facility to teach students how to handle honey, ensure quality, and package it properly. We also need more protective gear and equipment to keep up with the increasing number of students. Investing in these resources will help us better prepare graduates to meet the needs of Malawi’s apiculture sector.

Images: Putting on protective clothing and preparing to collect honey

Images: Lenson with top bar hive

Meet Lenson

My name is Lenson Simumba, and I am a Beekeeping Practical Trainer. I was raised in a village where I learned beekeeping from my father. Currently, I teach students at Mzuzu University. Watching young people engage with bees fills me with hope for the future of Malawi.

Mzuzu University Beekeeping Course

The beekeeping course at Mzuzu University combines both theory and hands-on experience. In the classroom, students study topics like bee biology, hive management, pests, and the business side of beekeeping. In the apiary, they wear protective suits, check the hives, collect honey, and learn how to process and package it. Students come from various backgrounds, including agriculture, forestry, and business, which allows for a rich exchange of knowledge and ideas.

Image: Post harvest inspection of the hive, examining a robust brood comb to indicate that the colony is in good health and actively increasing in population

Image: Lenson Simumba

Why it matters for Malawi

Malawi has a favourable climate and abundant flowers, yet we still import honey. University-level beekeeping education helps improve knowledge, enhances honey quality, and promotes environmental conservation. By training young people, Malawi can increase local honey production and protect its natural resources.

Opportunities for students

Beekeeping provides opportunities for self-employment, employment with NGOs and government agencies, and income through the sale of value-added products like beeswax candles and soap. It also helps develop skills in research, patience, and business management.

What support we need

We require more beehives, protective suits, and a demonstration apiary on campus. Additional support could also include small grants for graduates, market connections, and laboratories to test honey quality. These resources would greatly assist the growth of beekeeping in Malawi.

Beekeeping is important for employment, food security, and maintaining healthy forests. With proper training, our students have the potential to shape the future of beekeeping in Malawi.