Project Detail

Community-based beekeeping as an enterprise development strategy for biodiversity conservation and sustainable utilization

The project sought to develop a community-driven beekeeping initiative in Manduar village in the Kiang West District of The Gambia as part of an integrated sustainable natural resources conservation and management management project specifically conserving natural habitats found in the area. The specific objectives of the project were to:
- To assist the local communities including women to improve honey production
- To conserve genetic resources of the native honey bee( Apis mellifera) through the adoption of environmentally friendly technologies.
- Promote new adoptable and adaptable applied techniques for beekeeping which eliminate the use of fires.
- Develop marketing and facilitate networking among the groups.

Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Kiang West Kumu Doku Kafo

Country:

Gambia

Area Of Work:

Biodiversity

Operational Phase:

OP5- Y1 (Jul 11 - Jun 12)

Grant Amount:

US$ 30,000.00

Co-Financing Cash:

US$ 10,750.00

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 10,000.00

Project Number:

GMB/SGP/OP5/Y1/CORE/BD/11/04

Start Date:

8/2011

End Date:

10/2012

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

Photo Gallery

Nwely constructed Kenyan Top Bar beehives ready for distribution

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Project Characteristics and Results

Project sustainability

The bee keeping sustainable livelihood component is designed to improve the economic status of the Kiang West Kumu Doku Kafo.By the 5th month of project implementation, the first honey harvests registered outputs of 40 litres per hive with the current market price of D100/litre.These early results thus indicated the ability of the project to sustain itself.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

The emphasis of the project was to improve the livelihood of the community through better management f the local environment.The project area was a rural one where the population depended entirely on agriculture and the exploitation of their natural resources for livelihood sustenance.

Capacity - Building Component

The project aimed at building capacities among the local population in order to improve the environment while at the same time reduce poverty through the creation of better opportunities in the area.

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

The project hoped to increase public awareness on the importance of protecting the environment and adopting environmentally-friendly income generating technologies through its sensitization workshops.

Notable Community Participation

The project was executed by a local CBO with a membership of over 51 from the village of manduar in the Kiang West District of The Gambia. This CBO has been an active partner in local efforts to protect the environment and has been in a partnership with other development agencies in the past.

Gender Focus

Women were an important segment of the CBO and they benefited greatly from this project as in the areas of enterprise development and skills impacted on honey product processing to produce soap and body lotion

Project Results

- 150 Bee hives (Kenyan type) were purchased and distributed among 18 villages belonging to the Kiang West Kumu Doku Kafo. All the hives have been baited and sited for colonization by bees.

- A two day training session was conducted for 316 farmers (which includes 140 female farmers) on improved beekeeping methods, bush fire control and bee products marketing strategy. The objective of the training was to put the CBO on sound footing for bee keeping as a socio-economic profitable enterprise.

- Together with the hives supplied, bee keeping equipment was also provided to the 18 villages which included 18 sets of uniforms, gloves, smokers and hive tools.

- Upon the completion of the training, fire-belting exercises were carried out on community forest reserves so as to reduce the incidences of bush fires in the area.

-one honey processing and packaging house under construction to serve as storage facility and buying point for honey and all honey products.

- two enterprises established;bottled and labeled honey and honey wax products(soap and body cream).
these two have since become a source of income especially for the women farmers in the 34 beneficiary communities.

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Indicators

Empowerment

Number of women participated / involved in SGP project 5113

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