Project Detail

Diversifying the Apiculture Sector in Saint Lucia.

This project will move the apiculture industry higher up the value chain and make Saint Lucia the most advanced island for apiculture in the Eastern Caribbean. The project objectives are: (i) Implementation of a Residual Monitoring Plan, to enable foreign investment into the sector; (ii) Export honey to South East Asia; (iii) Development of an Api-tourism product to provide a new revenue stream to beekeepers within the IAC; (iv) Harvesting of apitoxin as higher earning new revenue stream, which make the IAC less dependent on honey production to support their livelihood; (v) Crop development, due to loss of natural forage and the absence of an agriculture sector that enhances the forage opportunities for bees; and (vi) Strategic stakeholder meeting for further development of sector.

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Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Iyanola Apiculture Collective

Country:

Saint Lucia

Area Of Work:

Biodiversity

Operational Phase:

OP6 -Y4 (Jul 18 - Jun 19)

Grant Amount:

US$ 39,971.00

Co-Financing Cash:

US$ 19,333.00

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 33,580.00

Project Number:

STL/SGP/OP6/Y4/STAR/BC/19/01

Start Date:

6/2019

End Date:

7/2021

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

Project Characteristics and Results

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

Alternative livelihood activities will include the harvesting and sale of apitoxin and the development and sale of api-tours to locals and visitors.

Gender Focus

Both men and women are free to join the group, however, women are historically frightened of bees. It is expected that this project will breed more docile bees to enable more women to be attracted to apiculture.

Planning non gef grant

Due to the hugh success of this project, GEF SGP UNDP together with the grantee agreed to upscale and internationalize, by developing an apiculture project for six countries *Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts & Nevis; Saint Lucia; Samoa. and Trinidad and Tobago.

Capacity - Building Component

Group members will be introduced to new techniques in apiculture for apitoxiin harvesting and apitourism. The group will also be introduced to generic and specific monitoring methods to enable theme to give proven results.

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples

Kwéyòl, which is the second language in Saint Lucia will be used when required.

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

Mass communication as well as Social Media formats will be used to increase people's knowledge of apiculture and the significance of bees to the environment.

Planning gef grant

No immediate plans for such a transition.

Linkages gef projects

No linkages at this time.

Project sustainability

The project is environmentally, financially and economically viable. The sales of products and services are increasing and there is diversification of the product line. Most importantly, the continued use of a scientific and innovation approach has made it possible to keep the project and the grantee several steps ahead of any known competition in Saint Lucia.

Inovative Financial Mechanisms

There will be continuous documenting of the entire process and the resulting documents shall be made accessible.

Policy Influence

This project at closure had no direct policy influence, but pointed the direction in which the apiculture industry should develop in Saint Lucia, id est, by integrating science and innovation, sound business principles, continuous capacity building, and building partnerships (local, regional and international).

Replication of project activities

This project can be easily replicated because of the level of the level of documentation available.

Policy Impact

We are hoping that Saint Lucia will implement a National Residual Monitoring Plan which will enable the country to export to the European Union.

Notable Community Participation

Young people are members of the group and more young people will be invited to participate in order to increase the production of honey and its by-products.

Project Results

Though this project was significantly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic during its final year of implementation, the achievements were many and varied, for which the grantee needs to be complimented. Among the achievements were the following: (i) the quality of the honey was confirmed by further testing at the PHARM Institute in Martinique; (ii) competency developed in the extraction of Apitoxin from hives; (iii) a new local pain relief cream was developed and is in trials; (iv) an api-tourism tour was developed and is being sold by the biggest Tourism Ground Handling Company in Saint Lucia; and (v) the grantee planted a total of 750 trees and crops in the vicinity of its apiaries (125 christophine 50 passon, 75 coconut, 300 plantains, and 200 coco trees).

During project implementation 14 persons were employed (9 men and 5 women) who together earned a total of US$24,141 (US$6367 ? women; US$17,774 ? men). In addition to this income, the grantee was able to earn a total of US$51,778 in sales of products and services. Products included honey and bee friendly crops (US37,111) and US$14,667 (training in queen rearing and api-tourism tours).

The project also had a significant impact in building capacity by training a total of 133 persons (51 women and 83 men) at June 2020, in areas such as colony expansion techniques; basic apiculture; forage augmentation; and with additional funds from JICA, remote hive monitoring.

Another major achievement of the project was the building of partnerships with the OECS, IICA and the Association of Caribbean Beekeepers. Based on the work completed during this project, the President of IAC was appointed to the Presidency of the Association of Caribbean Beekeepers.

Finally, thought the project was not able to initiate a national Residual Monitoring Plan, it was able to demonstrate the value of a thriving Apiculture Industry in Saint Lucia based on science and innovation, from both an environmental and an economic perspective.

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