Project Detail

Community beekeeping as an alternative income source and strategy for environmental conservation

The aim of the project was to conserve biodiversity by transforming existing beekeeping efforts by individuals into a broad-based commercial activity among 5 villages in the Kiang West District of the Lower River Region of The Gambia. The selected villages wouldl have regular incomes as a result and beekeeping will bring additional benefits in the areas of crop pollination and overall increased agricultural productivity. The project overall goal is to protect the environment of the area by conserving and protecting the natural forests of the district which is regarded as the most closed and dense forest ecosystem of the country but which has undergone drastic changes due to human exploitation and poor practices.

Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Rural Development Association

Country:

Gambia

Area Of Work:

Biodiversity

Operational Phase:

OP5- Y1 (Jul 11 - Jun 12)

Grant Amount:

US$ 30,000.00

Co-Financing Cash:

US$ 5,000.00

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 8,000.00

Project Number:

GMB/SGP/OP5/Y1/CORE/BD/11/08

Start Date:

8/2011

End Date:

7/2012

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

Project Characteristics and Results

Project sustainability

Beekeeping and its by products development will help to ensure that the undertaking is self sustaining. The sale of honey and its byproducts has a huge potential for increasing incomes.

Capacity - Building Component

Like the other bee keeping projects, this project also had a central capacity building component meant to improve the performances and outputs of the communities. Training programmes were executed specifically to build capacities among the project beneficiaries.

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

The importance of protecting the global environment was highlighted among the 5 project communities. The linkage between livelihoods and a healthy environment would be demonstrated by the project.

Gender Focus

The participation of women and youth was also central to this project. As the two groups are usually the most marginalized in Gambian society, they were targeted by the project in order to improve their status.

Notable Community Participation

The project operated in 5 villages in the Kiang West District which the local CBO has its membership. The CBO has a recent history of working with these identified groups in executing community-based development initiatives and the same principles were applied in this project.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

The project area has traditionally been a bee farming area where local livelihoods depended on honey production. Due to poor practices, honey production had declined resulting in reduced incomes. This project would institute better bee farming methods in the area geared towards improving the income status of the communities.

Project Results

- Sensitization and demarcation of community apiary sites lasting for 6 days conducted meetings lasting for 8 days conducted in 18 communities.

- 832 females and 449 male members of the CBO were sensitized on the aims and objectives of the project.

- 25 participants from 4 villages (Karantaba, Taborangkoto, Gisseh and Burong) received training on beekeeping technology in preparation for project implementation.

- 25 participants from 4 villages (Karantaba, Jula kunda, Bajana and Kuli kunda) received training on fruit tree establishment and management in preparation for project implementation.

- Apiary site demarcation completed in 4 villages: Karantaba, Gisseh, Burong and Taborangkoto.

- Apiary development completed in all above 4 villages.

- 80 KTB beehives provided to the 4 Apiary villages.

- Beekeeping materials procured and distributed among the 4 villages.

- Construction of honey processing centre to serve all villages well advanced.

- Materials for orchard establishment in the 4 orchard villages procured and supplied including 4 wheel barrows, 8 spades, polypots.

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