Beekeeping in Rwanda has been mostly at subsistence and efficient production of good quality honey from traditional hives is still a long way from being achieved. In some cases beekeepers are encouraged to try various methods of beekeeping without adequate training resulting for example in high absconding rates in the so called hives, ‘modern’ whereas occupation rate in traditional hives is generally seems to be higher. The cost of modern beehives and the high management associated with such hives is beyond the average village beekeeper. According to Ouedraigo (2009), Rwanda showed that there were an estimated 30,293 beekeepers of whose 18,430 were men, 7,233 women and 4,630 were youth. The total number of hives was estimated to be 92,971 with 84,255 being traditional log, mud and other indigenous hives while the modern hives were estimated to be approximately 8,716. 3.2.4.3 Democratic Republic of Congo experience. Honey hunting has been a traditional activity in Bas Congo, as in much of Africa. Modern beekeeping technologies were introduced in 1980s. Christian Aid Organisation funded training to the villagers near Mbanza Nzundu in the Bas Congo region. This was followed by villagers adoption of beekeeping technology and by 1990 there were nearly 400 each with a hive; producing an average honey surplus for sale of 7.3kg per year. In the year 2000 Bas Congo had over 1000 beekeepers with an estimated production of 14 tons of honey per year. Some villagers possessed up to 40 KTB hives, while the majority had one or two KTB hives. The money obtained from sale of honey was a significant supplementary household income (Latham, 2000) It was not uncommon to find up to ten hives in a hectare of forest yielding from 50 -100 liters of honey per annum in which in the year 2000 it was selling at USD 2 per liter (Ibid). Latham also adds that, beekeeping is worthy especially when villagers are committed with the project. Beekeeping can act as a useful supplementary income and cutter for most
Beekeeping in Rwanda has been mostly at subsistence and efficient production of good quality honey from traditional hives is still a long way from being achieved. In some cases beekeepers are encouraged to try various methods of beekeeping without adequate training resulting for example in high absconding rates in the so called ‘modern’ hives, whereas occupation rate in traditional hives is generally seems to be higher. The cost of modern beehives and the high management associated with such hives is beyond the average village beekeeper. According to Ouedraigo (2009), Rwanda showed that there were an estimated 30,293 beekeepers of whose 18,430 were men, 7,233 women and 4,630 were youth. The total number of hives was estimated to be 92,971 with 84,255 being traditional log, mud and other indigenous hives while the modern hives were estimated to be approximately 8,716. 3.2.4.3 Democratic Republic of Congo experience. Honey hunting has been a traditional activity in Bas Congo, as in much of Africa. Modern beekeeping technologies were introduced in 1980s. Christian Aid Organisation funded training to the villagers near Mbanza Nzundu in the Bas Congo region. This was followed by villagers adoption of beekeeping technology and by 1990 there were nearly 400 each with a hive; producing an average honey surplus for sale of 7.3kg per year. In the year 2000 Bas Congo had over 1000 beekeepers with an estimated production of 14 tons of honey per year. Some villagers possessed up to 40 KTB hives, while the majority had one or two KTB hives. The money obtained from sale of honey was a significant supplementary household income (Latham, 2000) It was not uncommon to find up to ten hives in a hectare of forest yielding from 50 -100 liters of honey per annum in which in the year 2000 it was selling at USD 2 per liter (Ibid). Latham also adds that, beekeeping is worthy especially when villagers are committed with the project. Beekeeping can act as a useful supplementary income and cutter for most
SAGALI%2C_HERI_LABANI_%2D_MCED_MWANZA_%2D_DISSERTATION_2014.docx