Bees For Business

In September 2018 we launched our Bees for Business project, which supported 50 women in rural Burkina Faso to become established beekeepers.

The Benkadi de Dakoro group was already producing honey by traditional methods. However, the equipment and process was impairing the quantity and quality, lowering the market value.

Before the project began, the women each earned approximately £40 per year. This left them unable to support themselves and provide the basics for their family including food, primary healthcare and education.

After receiving practical and theoretical training and by using the modern beekeeping equipment provided, the group are now producing good quality honey suitable for export. This means they have a year-round, sustainable source of income and are better able meet the livelihood needs of their family.

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Case study

Before joining our Bees for Business project, Abibata relied on seasonal fruit picking to provide for herself and her four children, an activity which only provided an income for three months of the year and left her struggling to meet the basic needs of her family.

“If I or my children become sick we rely on herbal medicine for treatment. We have no access to electricity and rely on torch light at night powered by a solar panel. My children study at night using this torch.”

Since joining Bees for Business, Abibata has learnt new skills including how to safely harvest honey and wax without impairing its quality, how to attract bees into her hives and hive maintenance. With the income Abibata will earn from the sale of honey and wax she will be able to better support her four children.