Revitalizing Rwanda’s beekeeping to increase quality and quantity of bee products
New project to develop the capacities of beekeepers to improve their livelihood and incomes
The beekeeping industry in Rwanda has made major advances in the past 20 years, although production is still mainly through traditional methods.
The country projects to increase the net production of honey to 8 611 metric tons by 2023/24, according to the Strategic Plan for the Transformation of Agriculture (PSTA 4). The main bee products exploited in Rwanda are honey, beeswax and propolis (used in medicines) and other products such as royal jelly, pollen, bee venom and bee brood.
Figures from the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), show there are about 120 000 beekeepers in the country, with only 35 percent using modern beekeeping, others practice traditional methods. Therefore, support is much needed in terms of capacity development, setting up demonstration apiaries and beekeeping equipment supply.
To support this sub-sector, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), are working together to implement a new project that will develop the capacities of beekeepers in modern beekeeping skills to increase production of quality and quantity of bee products.
The targeted apiarists will be trained in apiary management, control of bee diseases and pests, field monitoring of honey and other bee products standards and traceability, and marketing planning, handling, among others.
They will also receive bee equipment like modern hives and accessories, honey extractors and sieves, candy sugar, smokers, bee suits, processing equipment and other beekeeping materials for harvesting.
Market for bee products
“Modernizing beekeeping is also about enhancing the capacities of the farmers, and empowering them with skills and knowledge to fight diseases. Rwanda is exporting bee products to United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other international markets. We desire to have more certified companies and professional beekeepers involved in primary production,” said Fabrice Ndayisenga, Head of Department Animal Resources Research and Technology Transfer at RAB.
“The beekeeping industry in Rwanda is coming out of shadow attracting public and private sector support and is becoming one of the areas where investments can be encouraged. This project will develop the capacity of beekeepers and master trainers through establishment of four model educational apiaries at four major agro-ecological zones, namely, Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western provinces,” said Ricarda Mondry FAO Livestock Development Officer.
Increasing job opportunities in apiculture
The Strategic Plan for the Transformation of Agriculture (PSTA 4), recognizes that beekeeping value-chain has high potential to provide additional income for poor families engaged in the business, and creating new off-farm jobs.
The project “Capacity building to increase the quality and quantity of honey in Rwanda furthering income generation and job creation” will target about 6 000 beekeepers – with at least 30 percent women and Youth. By supporting youth and women, they will be able to add value to bee products that are competitive on local and international market using appropriate beekeeping technologies.
This project is embedded into the FAO’s Sustainable Food and Agriculture (SFA) approach for sustainable production and management of natural resources.
Beekeeping in Rwanda
The presence of the natural forests with wild plant resources, vegetation and the vast amount of eucalyptus trees, provide a conducive ecology for the bees to produce pesticide-free honey.
Beekeeping in the 'Land of a thousand Hills' has been practiced for many years through successive generations and along inherited patterns.
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