MONEY FROM HONEY: HOW BEE FARMERS IN ADJUMANI CAN THRIVE BY THE HIVE.

By Bazio Doreen—Adjumani District.

 Every year on May 20th, World Bee Day is observed to highlight the crucial role that bees and other pollinators play in maintaining the health of people and the planet. 

As bees, pollinators, and numerous other insects face a decline in population, this day serves as a platform for everyone to advocate for initiatives that will safeguard and improve the habitats of pollinators, enhance their numbers and diversity, and support sustainable beekeeping practices. 

In the West Nile region, especially in Adjumani District, beekeeping is steadily becoming a viable and sustainable economic pursuit. Honey and beeswax represent some of the non-wood forest products that hold significant potential for enhancing nutrition, ensuring food security, boosting household incomes, and aiding forest conservation in the West Nile area of northwestern Uganda. This presents a great opportunity for beekeepers in Adjumani, as the West Nile region ranks as the largest honey production area in Uganda, yielding nearly 85,000 kilograms of honey each year. 

A baseline study conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF-Uganda) reveals that the value chain for bee products in this region comprises several stakeholders, including beekeepers (90%) and honey collectors (10%). Nonetheless, these participants largely operate in an unorganized manner, primarily using traditional beehives. The chain also includes processors (60%) and traders (40%). 

Beekeepers provide honey to local processors, who then modify and sell the product in local markets, with prices ranging from Ugx 20,000/= to Ugx 25,000/= per kilogram. Conversely, beeswax is priced between Ugx 25,000 and Ugx 30,000 per kilogram.

In Adjumani, Pakele Sub County is the top honey-producing area, while Adjumani Town Council has the lowest output. The district is home to 1,300 beekeepers, supported by both the government and other partners. In 2024, Adjumani’s beekeepers generated approximately 5,826 kilograms of honey. Furthermore, the beekeeping sector contributes around Ugx 178,130,000/= every year to the district's household incomes.

In addition to providing income, beekeeping transcends mere agricultural activity by offering vital pollination services, necessary for local farming and ecological stability. However, the full potential of this sector is hampered by several challenges, including a lack of necessary equipment and training, wildfires, market accessibility issues, inadequate market information, poor harvesting methods, and a decrease in viable bee forage. 

On the other hand, there are opportunities that can be leveraged to help individuals in this sector overcome these obstacles and prosper. Firstly, honeybees, as social insects, create honey and various hive products that are utilized as medicinal resources, either by direct consumption or in the pharmaceutical industry. All hive products are believed to possess medicinal properties (apitherapy) due to the diverse plants visited by the bees. Common products include honey, propolis, beeswax, royal jelly, pollen, and bee bread. 

Secondly, there is a pressing need for a dynamic workforce that includes both youth and women. Although this varies from one community to another, studies indicate that men have traditionally been more active in the entire hive product value chain, whereas women tend to be involved mainly in honey processing and marketing. Women frequently face cultural and social challenges that hinder their participation in, and benefits from, developmental initiatives. 

This may partly explain why the beekeepers in Adjumani are not reaching their full production potential. They have not effectively utilized the favorable climate, which allows for continuous beekeeping throughout the year and provides a healthy environment with minimal pesticide exposure. 

Beehives can be established in protected locations and do not depend on soil quality or rainfall. This climate-smart alternative for small-scale farmers has the potential to enhance the diversity of bee forage and capitalize on the significant opportunity presented by West Nile, which is the largest market for bee products in the country. However, launching such extensive projects necessitates funding.

Beekeepers must also utilize the available technical and financial assistance provided through government initiatives like the Parish Development Model (PDM), UGiFT Micro-scale Irrigation, and Uganda Climate Smart Agricultural Transformation.

Unfortunately, beekeepers in Adjumani, similar to their peers nationwide, are often unaware of the benefits that such support could bring them. Many have focused solely on honey production, neglecting that beeswax is among the most profitable bee products on the global market.

To achieve this, beekeepers in Adjumani should take advantage of the assistance from the Uganda National Apiculture Development Organization (TUNADO), which encompasses their welfare, technology distribution, aggregation of hive products, and ensuring that the quality of these products meets the required standards for various markets.

Uganda is estimated to produce around 500,000 metric tons annually from approximately 6.3 million beehives. There is a potential market for honey producers in Uganda worth about $3 billion internationally. Uganda has only achieved 1% of its global potential.