If it were not for the bees…

Main-Imgae

Situated just on the foot of Udzungwa Mountains, Villagers of Msufini Village in Kilombero District enjoys the magnificent view of forests and landscape just at their vicinity. In this village, EAMCEF selected a small group of farmers to demonstrate how beekeeping through modern beehives can be a profitable economic activity that would change lives of the people, provide them with alternative income that would incentivize them to stop invading protected forests for the same purpose. Ten years earlier prior to EAMCEF intervention, a group of ten farmers – 6 being males – agreed to form a beekeeping group named ‘Wosia wa Baba’. The group gathered 10 locally-made beehives, normally made from logs, and hanged them on trees, in the forest – protected forest. Each beehive produced honey only 5 litres a year. The group therefore generated around TZS. 50,000 – 60,000 per year! The group never owned any honey processing equipment. During honey harvesting period, bee keepers normally light fire to chase away bees. In the process, fire is left uncontrolled and spread to nearby trees and even further deeper into the forest. The forest authority in the area prohibited such activities and put strong measures to prevent people from invading the forests. The group, being among the victims was left without any other option than hanging hives on nearby trees within the village. The group chose a small area and decided to plant trees to serve the purpose, but still this was not economically viable.

To make beekeeping a profitable business that would withdraw villagers from invading protected forests, EAMCEF intervened and took advantage of the existing group to introduce modern beekeeping techniques.

Story Details

  • location:
    Msufini Village, Kilombero District
  • Surrounding Forest:
    Udzungwa Mountains National Park

KEY DATA

Across project sites – Korogwe, Mkinga, Lushoto, Same, Morogoro, Kilombero, Mvomero, Kilolo and Mufindi Districts

  • 1570 (680F:890M) villagers trained on modern beekeeping techniques
  • 82 beekeeping groups formed
  • 1352 modern beehives supplied to villagers/groups
  • 14180 litres of honey harvested
  • 508kgs of beeswax collected
  • TZS. 7,6647,400 revenues generated from sales of honey and beeswax

I am a widowed woman but no longer frustrated because I use income from beekeeping activities to invest in other productive activities – last year I did not touch any hoe, instead I hired a tractor to plough my farm!

HIDAYA SAID MATAJIRI

Bees [to mean beekeeping] are enough, I remember I almost got bitten by a black mamba [a snake] in search for honey in the forest. I no longer need to go up there [in the forest] again I no longer feel stressed paying school fees for my children, in the past I was very much disgraced…I borrowed TZS. 40,000 to pay for school fee, but ended up repaying one sack of paddy worthy TZS. 100,000!

RECKSON ARON MTAMA (Secretary - Wosia wa Baba Group)

We [the group] are like conservators, by practicing beekeeping we know that bees depend on the environment around so we don’t allow anyone to cut trees or burn them down…I am very much enthusiastic about the project and I am now a good teacher to others. I would advise the villagers to ensure that during village land use planning exercise, a large chunk of land is set aside for tree planting and beekeeping activities. This will reduce pressure on protected forests since the woodlots would provide firewood too.

RAJAB MOHAMED MALIPA

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