Project Detail

Removing barriers from upscaling Beekeeping and production of Wool and Mohair products in Lesotho

CONTEXT

Lesotho being mainly a grassland, has very few and threatened indigenous shrub lands and vast areas of invasive shrubs that serve as the source of cooking, heating and lighting energy for rural households, particularly those in the mountain region. Other than caring for the families and engaging in non-cash activities like tilling the land and with local beer brewing bringing in a little income, rural communities, especially women and girls do not engage in economic activities and remain overly dependent on men, a situation that exacerbates child marriages and utter hopelessness. Unemployment is among the key developmental challenges identified by the National Strategic Development Plan. The project therefore seeks to create employment opportunities by creating an enabling environment for women-led nature-based enterprises to concentrate on increasing production. The project seeks to bring all players in the tapestry industry and apiculture to facilitate functionality of structures that have existed but never functioned which were meant to increase production in both tapestry and apiculture. Lesotho has had an Apicultural Center within the Ministry of Forestry, Range and Soil Conservation (MFRSC) with equipment for extraction of apiculture products to facilitate high quality and quantity of apicultural products yet it is not functional.
On the other hand Basotho in apiculture are not able to satisfy the large local markets such as the pharmaceuticals, bakeries, hotels, households among others, due to a number of reasons including poor processing, lack of standards and therefore poor quality. According to MFRSC reports (2018/19), Lesotho produced 2 tons of honey in the financial year 2018/19 (starting in April and end in March) while on the other hand the Ministry of Trade and Industry recorded 12 tons of honey which is imported from other countries such as Zambia and South Africa in 2019. This scenario indicates that there is high demand of honey in Lesotho, hence a need to upscale honey production to meet the demand of consumers in and outside Lesotho.

In the tapestry industry, a project implemented with the funding of IFAD through WAMPP indicates that there is need to increased market return from wool and mohair systems for livestock producers through improved quality of the fibre while at the same time stimulating a niche cottage industry for wool and mohair tapestry products, and providing a market outlet for unproductive animals that need to be removed from the rangeland. This industry has been hampered by erratic tourist numbers that make up to 50% of the demand and a lack of consistent support (innovative design, suitable financial products and market access).?

The project therefore seeks to bring all players (producers, government ministries, institutions of higher learning including vocational schools, development partners, NGOs and civil society organizations, business community etc.), to remove barriers in upscaling the tapestry and apicultural enterprises so ensuring that research is done also finding the best locally produced equipment to be produced by vocational schools to researched quality and standards. Further the project will ensure that entrepreneur networks are established, standards and business models are developed, and links to markets are established for functionality of the selected industries as an impetus to other green industries. Bringing all these sectors and stakeholders together will also help in improving local markets, integrating into regional and international markets with confidence and utilizing the advantage of the altitude of Lesotho and its favorable climatic conditions.

OVERALL OBJECTIVE

To harness and safeguard entrepreneurship skills of women in order to strengthen their participation in nature-based businesses such as those involving biodiversity conservation and value addition to agricultural products, as well as to support resilient livelihoods thus contributing to economic growth is in line with GEF-SGP goal to effectively support creation of environmental benefits and safeguarding of the global environment through community and local solutions that complement and add value to national and global level action.

The envisaged results are:

? Growing population of Honey Bees for improved honey production and ecological benefits
? Women Beekeepers/tapestry weavers in thriving nature-based enterprises
? Resilient livelihoods for beekeepers and wool and mohair tapestry weavers

Project Activities:

*Inventory of existing target entrepreneurs and their locations
*Inventory of strategic partners and on-going strategic initiatives
*Comprehensive research on targeted products and markets
*Identification and sourcing of appropriate technology and acquisition of requisite equipment
*Training and Skills development for target groups (entrepreneurial, technological, business management, organizational development, packaging)
*Review of existing quality control mechanisms in production processes
*Capacity needs assessment of target entrepreneurs
*Establishment of conglomerations of target entrepreneurs
*Development of a business finance model
* Establishment of enabling environment for upscaling of targeted enterprises

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Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Technologies for Economic Development

Country:

Lesotho

Area Of Work:

Biodiversity
CapDev
Land Degradation

Operational Phase:

OP6 - Y6 (Jul 20-Jun 21)

Grant Amount:

US$ 150,000.00

Co-Financing Cash:

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 186,908.00

Project Number:

LSO/SGP/OP6/Y6/CORE/WLE/2020/26

Start Date:

9/2020

End Date:

6/2023

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

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Project Characteristics and Results

Project sustainability

Fragmentation and poor coordination, deficits in requisite skills and appropriate technology and infrastructure and limited access to finance are among the key challenges hindering growth in the targeted industries. With the requisite coordination structures and partnerships in place and functioning, the foundation for growth and sustainability in the two industries has been laid.

Policy Impact

In line with SDG 17 for achieving all other SDGs, the project is promoting multi-sectoral approach to activities for economic growth and so the result will be a multi-sectoral National Apiculture Network and a National Tapestry Network.

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples

Lesotho is one of the countries known with homogenous nation with no particular sections of society considered as indigenous, however, TED is particular in its promotion of the SDGs and so the Slogan ?Leave No On Behind?. As such TED uses local language to reach out to the public and in multiple platforms: dialogues, public gatherings, all types of Media. Also in its partnership with other programmes and organizations including those of disabled persons, senior citizens, herdsmen etc., TED shares platforms as such people are classified as vulnerable and marginalized people. Moreover, TED is part of Radio Programmes dedicated to marginalized people.

Planning gef grant

N/A

Capacity - Building Component

The Needs Assessment established the following: ? Standards and Quality control: No standards exist in Lesotho and so this hinders also access to markets. Quality is also compromised also making it difficult for products to rich to international markets. There is however a process initiated by the Ministry of Trade for development of standards for organic products and this project will facilitate the process as it was difficult to have stakeholders on board. ? Enabling environment & Establishment of conglomerations & Producer forums: There has been some fragmentation in the sectors where enterprises have been working in silos and so the project will facilitate creation of enabling environment and platforms to belong and work together to supply markets together. ? Production management: This relates also to quality and standards that enterprises have no management in production hence standards and quality are compromised hindering products to reach to markets. ? Research and appropriate technology/machinery: Absence of research on Lesotho apicultural products restricts products to community markets only as there is no confidence and knowledge of standards and quality to penetrate national and international markets. This lack of research on Lesotho products and if any research done is done in silo mentality that does not benefit the industries hence it is established that there is great need to conduct research in collaboration with farmers as well to establish quality and also other potential by products. ? Capacity building for small keepers to avert situation where big keepers take advantage of the small keepers: There is therefore great need for capacity development and training of entrepreneurs on a number of aspects from production, value chain business models, Quality and Standards and Marketing and these will be addressed by the project. ? Identification of existing initiatives and potential partnerships, build on existing processes: There is silo mentality and fragmentation of different programmes which are not helping entrepreneurs to work towards satisfying markets by building partnerships. The project aims to build multi-sectoral partnerships to address all the needs identified in a collaborative manner as a nation to strengthen the apiculture and tapestry industries as they have unique potential for Lesotho. ? Coordination: It is established that even within the Ministry responsible, there is no dedicated coordination of enterprises hence the project will facilitate establishment of Associations and Networks for the enterprises to work in a coordinated manner and to know the capacity to supply the diverse markets which are hindered by working in silos. ? Output on awareness raising: It is established that enterprises work as if it was only as a hobby to do what they are doing and not as business hence the projects will provide training and awareness of the diverse benefits of nature-based entrepreneurship Especially in tapestry it is found out that young people are not interested in tapestry. After a training on few items they sell those and use the money received as transport to work as nannies in South Africa. A lot of awareness therefore needs to be done to raise potential of the industry.

Gender Focus

The project is to empower women and develop their capacity into leadership of the industries (apiculture and tapestry) but through the Value Chain Business Model Training will give a balance and inclusion of men as well within the value chain.

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

The project will use Briefs, Dialogues, Public Gatherings, Other Programmes Platforms and different Media in local language including in Sustainable Development sessions in schools for raising awareness

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

There will generally be identification in communities which have fields that have lost fertility for crop production to be planted with fodder that will rehabilitate the fields but also provide as fodder for animals particularly sheep and goats that produce wool and mohair used in tapestry. Planting will also provide habitat for bees. Generally biodiversity will be conserved through this project and numerous benefits. Apiculture: There will be benefits to crop agriculture from pollination of bees hence it is expected to realize better harvest in the communities where the project will take place. Communities will also get the benefits of trainings that include the Value Chain Business Model. Tapestry: There will be benefits to ordinary people who used to throw away wool without knowing the benefits in the value chain development. Communities will learn to keep wool and mohair from the animals and to sell even in small quantities but there will also be learning from experts that will provide training in the project on value chain business model.

Inovative Financial Mechanisms

To capture, share and disseminate knowledge, lessons learned and good practices, the project will use local governance existing platforms, farmers? platforms and existing platforms within the apiculture and tapestry industries with enterprises and relevant ministries. The project will be published on TED website and periodically produce reports and develop a Social Media Platform to share information for the project. As a norm to communicate TED?s projects, there will be a one page brief for the project to be shared at different forums to make the project known. TED has relationship with Lesotho National Broadcasting Service and a number of Radio Stations and News Papers through celebration of Environment and Sustainable Development Goals related days and activities which are great platform for TED to share knowledge and lessons on the project as one contributing to achievement of Sustainable Development Goals and to eradicate poverty through caring for the environment.

Planning non gef grant

To date TED has been approached by GIZ under the national ICM programme to develop a beekeeping project concept for selected priority ICM catchments for enhancement of biodiversity and vegetative cover among other benefits and of course, improvement of honey production in Lesotho.

Replication of project activities

Policy Influence

Wool and mohair are identified as some of the under the agriculture investment opportunites. Being sencond in the world for production of wool and mohair, there is great potential in the value chain dvelopment and scaling up of production. By promoting and nurturing diversitification and products aggregation, the project has contributed to laying out a foundation for further development and finetuning of the value chains for the two selected industries: beekeeping and wool and mohair cottage industries. Through dialogues, skills development, appropriate technologies, infrastructure development and development of partnerships, fertile ground has been prepared to inform policy development.

Notable Community Participation

Youth will be involved and get direct benefits as young women and girls in nature-based enterprises. However the project will be of benefit to youth in general as they will learn. Some Schools do have apiculture in particular established through precious TED initiatives in environment education where school apiculture is let by girls encouraging other pupils to see bees as friends of nature and so all other youth learn from this.

Project Results

-*Following a series of fire awareness campaigns that reached, fire management committees have been strengthened and fire manage plans developed in 3 of the 5 selected project hotspots. The hotspots have been captured in GIS to enable monitoring of fire activity in the project sites.

*In partnership with Apimondia Regional Commission for Africa and in collaboration with the Ministry of Forestry, Range and Soil Conservation, a beekeeping training with a theme "Let there be honey in Lesotho" was conducted. 44 participants benefitted from the training (37 women, 7 men, 31 youth): beekeepers were equipped with beekeeping skills. The beekeeping training was held back-to-back with a hive production training - through this training (21 women, 4 men, 16 youth), more than 200 hives and more than 50 trap boxes were produced. Each trainee went away with up to 4 beehives and a trap box to grow their business (100 to women, 44 to men, 94 to youth). Most of the hives were colonized within 7 days of distribution.

* The most commonly used beehive in Lesotho is the Langstroth. However due to challenges ranging from lack of skills in beekeeping and hive management, up to 70% of hives in some districts remain uncolonized. The training introduced the top bar as an affordable option which also offers an opportunity for comparison and generation of lessons to inform development of a beekeeping policy that will prescribe the most appropriate technology for Lesotho. Lessons are yet to be consolidated.

*Access to finance by women entrepreneurs has been improved through establishment of a financing
model that entails a revolving fund from which entrepreneurs, with special focus on women, can get loans to grow their businesses. To date, at least 12 women have benefitted from this resource to grow their businesses.

*Through commemoration of world bee days, 280 beekeepers were supported to participate thereby growing the network of beekeepers around the country.

* In pursuance of leaving no one behind, a woman beneficiary, of JMM Beekeeping, was supported to train people with disability (deaf and dumb) in beekeeping. 10 people participated in the training, and some have now started beekeeping on their own. JMM is on the other hand learning sign language from the group that has joined the network of beekeepers working with JMM. Furthermore, to build the capacity of wool and mohair tapestry cottage industries, a person with disability has been contracted to produce and supply Leribe Crafts Centre with additional spinning wheels. This brings the total of PWDs who have benefited from the project to 13.

*To promote networking and knowledge exchange within the region and beyond, 11 beekeepers were supported to participate at the Africa Region Apimondia Symposium in Durban- South Africa. At least 7 awards were collected in different categories of the exhibitions. all participants came back motivated to up their act also having made contacts and significant sales during the symposium.

*Three women (2 from wool and mohair cottage industries and 1 beekeeping) were supported attend the Intra-Africa Trade Fare also in Durban where LNDC and Standard Lesotho Bank made close contact and developed a partnership. It is through this partnership that Standard Lesotho Bank sponsored the Beekeeper, Sr. Julia Mafike of JMM beekeeping to participate at the just ended China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in China. Apart from sales made, JMM has clinched a deal and is currently working on a consignment of honey to be delivered in three weeks.

*The overall result of the dialogues and networking is formation of an apex body for beekeeping in Lesotho - Beekeeping and Industry Organization of Lesotho (BIOLE) and a constitution for the body is in place.

* Three beekeeping champions have been established and supported to nurture aggregation and motivate and stimulate honey production and processing in three of the five selected hotspots. Containers have been placed at the three hubs for marketing of beekeeping and wool and mohair products.

*Through collaborative work with the Wool and Mohair promotion Project, an apex body for the wool and mohair cottage industry is being formed.

*Formation of functional coordination structures for the targeted cottage industries have created platforms for growth.

*Introduction of new technologies has brought in the element of affordability and skills for producing own equipment. For example, Kenya top bar and concrete hives that beekeepers are experimenting with.

*Through collaborations with local Universities - National University Innovation Hub, The Limkokwing University and WAMPP, youth associations have been linked with wool and mohair tapestry weavers who are predominantly elderly people. This has provided a breath of young energy into an industry that is threatened.

*On the mobilization of new and additional resources front, an open-door policy with Apimondia is in place. BEDCO in partnership with Lesotho Post Bank are working on a financing model to support farmers and the wool and mohair cottage industries. The LNDC and Standard Lesotho Bank are supporting participation of producers in international conferences.

*Towards replication and upscaling of the project, TED was approached by GIZ under the ICM programme to develop a beekeeping project concept for priority ICM catchments for enhancement of biodiversity and vegetative cover among other benefits.

*JMM Ltd, a beneficiary of the project, has been identified as a Centre of excellence for beekeeping and in recognition of this, stakeholders converged at the Centre for extension of an existing orchard and planting of fruit trees, shrubs and selected grasses that are forage for bees.

* Awareness campaigns were carried out for Faith Based Organizations and the security sector in recognition of vast landscapes they occupy. As a result, Faith Based Organizations selected St. Augustine as having potential to be developed into another Centre of Excellence foe beekeeping. On the other hand, the Lesotho Police Training College was also identified as having potential. Thus, orchards have been established in these two areas and apiaries are being established also as a strategy foe ecosystem restoration in the vast spaces they have.

*About 1000 people (~700 women and ~300 men) including beekeepers, wool and mohair tapestry weavers, local authorities and government officers, security sector, have benefitted from the project through trainings, campaigns, dialogues and local, national and international fora.

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