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Conrad Mupesa-Mashonaland West Bureau
AT least 700 beekeepers from Hurungwe have started to benefit from a honey processing plant opened recently at Chitindiva Business Centre in Hurungwe North constituency.
The plant is part of the apiculture project rolled out by the Government, through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and ZimApiculture Trust under the Zambezi Valley Biodiversity Project.
It is fully equipped with manual and electric honey pressers and a solar-powered borehole.
The community lauded the project as a business venture that produces pure honey, wine, candles, floor and shoe polish.
The 700 beekeepers were each equipped with three beehives to protect forests while at the same time addressing human-wildlife conflicts.
One of the beekeepers, Ms Febby Chingwena hailed the initiative.
“I can now send my children to school while at the same time save for other business ventures,” she said.
Ms Chingwena is one of the more than 200 women who are benefiting from the initiative.
“We are still reeling under the negative impact of an El-Nino-induced drought. The majority did not reap anything and this project comes as an alternative source of income,” another beekeeper said.
“Honey production has, therefore, empowered us as women.”
Hurungwe Beekeepers Association chairperson Mr Willard Phiri welcomed the development.
“Going forward, we are looking at value addition so that we fully use our natural resources,” he said.
Before the project, elephants destroyed fields while many risked losing their lives from the attacks but researches have shown that they are afraid of bees, forcing them to divert routes if they come across them. For the community leadership, the project will not only leave people financially stable but will also protect forests and sacred places.
Chundu Village Head, Mr Hands Chundu said the rate of deforestation in his area was unbearable but the new project would help alleviate this.
The project is being implemented in Hurungwe, Mbire and Muzarabani districts, with the view to commercialising the enterprises through value addition to enhance sustainable forestry management, social inclusion and household resilience.
ZimApiculture Trust Director, Mrs Selina Chitapi said over 2 000 beekeepers were trained in the three districts.
“ZimApiculture Trust is a low-value grant recipient under the UNDP GEF6, Zambezi Valley biodiversity project and is implementing a project on commercialisation of honey enterprises to enhance sustainable forestry management, social inclusion and household resilience through upscaling”.
“The project trained a total of 2 091 beekeepers (1 362 male and 728 female) from Hurungwe, Mbire and Muzarabani since 2020 who were provided with at least three beehives each, giving a total of 6 000 beehives.
The project also constructed three honey processing centres which were equipped with honey processing equipment in the three districts,” she said.
Representing the Environment, Climate and Wildlife Minister, Dr Sithembiso Nyoni, acting deputy director wildlife conservation Mr Tendai Ruzvidzo said the Government was impressed by the new approach towards environmental conservation.
Online Reporter