Women extension workers empowering beekeepers in Ghana

Bees for Development Ghana has worked in the Afram Plains in the Eastern Region of Ghana, for over six years, supporting some of the poorest households and difficult to reach communities through nature-based beekeeping.

Women extension agents; Clara, Rejoice and Florence

In 2023, through a Darwin Initiative fund, over 900 more individuals – men, women and some youth, across 21 communities were equipped with nature-based beekeeping kills. Some of these individuals are crop farmers, fisherfolks and some charcoal producers. They were equipped with skills in hive construction, site selection and preparation, apiary set up and management among many others. This has created a pool of beekeepers that must be guided and supported to become productive beekeepers, to earn income from their newfound livelihood.

Interaction session with beginner beekeepers at Yawgeke – one of the difficult to reach communities from Donkorkrom (the district capital of Afram Plains)

Remains of a Borassus bee hive from which a honeybee colony has absconded

Myself, Florence and Clara work with the newly trained beekeepers as extension agents, supporting them in the early stages of their beekeeping practise. It is a good opportunity for us to give back to the beekeepers the rich repository of knowledge and skills we have obtained from Bees for Development Ghana through eighteen months of training and apprenticeship in nature-based beekeeping.

Resourced with motorbikes, which is the easiest means to reach these villages, we commute to the communities to interact with the newly trained beekeepers and visit the apiaries of the of the early adopters. The interactions and apiary visits allow us to assess the needs of the beekeepers. Our visits are not just an occasion to refresh their minds on apiary management but also a time to converse and listen to the beekeepers and understand their needs and challenges from hive construction, to selecting a favourable site, and managing their apiaries. The conversations are aimed at establishing best nature-based beekeeping practices leading to profitable and sustainable beekeeping.

Women constructed new hives inspired by the female extension agents

In 2024, Ghana experienced a long drought season leading to a decline in water and nectar forage sources for the bees. Consequently, many beekeepers experienced absconding of their bee colonies. Bushfires were also a nuisance because of the long drought. The climatic changes have delayed honey harvesting season for the beekeepers. There were also worrying occurrances of beekeepers’ honeycomb stolen from their hives and the bees burnt. It was not unusual to see these beginner beekeepers discouraged by these happenings. Yet, the presence of the extension agents in the communities offered hope to the beekeepers.

We also serve as role models, creating change in the beekeeping sector in Afram Plains and beyond. This women-led extension approach has created confidence and inspiration for many women and even some men to practice beekeeping.

The goal cannot be reached in one day. Continuous and systematic visits will lead to the success of creating confident beekeepers with thriving apiaries, producing honey to support their livelihoods. The population of bees in these communities will also increase, contributing to pollination efforts and consequently, higher crop yields.

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Mustapha from Kofinyina, constructing his first beehive. Mustapha provides motorbike transportation services and also produces charcoal to support his livelihood. He intends to stop charcoal production to become a beekeeper.