BEEKEEPING SUCCESS STORIES IN TOLAY. INTERNATIONAL CENTRE OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY (icipe)

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1 BEEKEEPING SUCCESS STORIES IN TOLAY INTERNATIONAL CENTRE OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY (icipe) By Desalegne Tadesse (icipe) ICIPE/BIOVISION TOLAY BEEKEPEING PROJECT OBJECTIVES ICIPE and Beekeeping Legends in Tolay Food security and poverty reduction are the most dominating global agenda and the national priority of Ethiopia. Likewise, the icipe researches and reports revealed that the role of beekeeping is becoming an increasingly pivotal and integral component to achieve inclusive transformation and growth across the rural community that leads to ensuring food security. icipe, opens our eyes. Only this year, more than 3000kg honey collected in our market place., Kedija Diga, beekeeper and honey saleswoman Scaling up beekeeping technology for better income and pollination Establishing beekeepers union and honey value chain development Developing infrastructure for hone processing and market center Providing capacity building on queen rearing, royal jelly production, organic honey testing and processing September 1, 2017 Beekeeping Success Story

2 I N T E R N A T I O N A L C E N T R E O F I N S E C T P H Y S I O L O G Y A N D E C O L O G Y ( I C I P E ) Picture: well established apiary sites and the landscape of Tolay International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) and Biovision joined their efforts to address this national as well as global agenda through boosting the Apiculture development in Tolay, south western Oromia region of Ethiopia. The beekeeping project, brings solutions that reduce poverty, while safeguarding ecosystems and economies. The project improves the livelihoods of more than 800 unemployed and landless people by turning the traditional beekeeping practices into sustainable business. Several activities and the outcomes of the project were reviewed by national and local implementing partners. Subsequently, the implementation of the project became a pioneer model generating multiple benefits and scaling out to over 10 villages. Initiatives are also coming out to replicate the project across the country. This is one of the greatest impact of the project. This report glances the glory of success stories from beekeeping project that makes Tolay the the source of organic honey. It demonstrates how the icipe and partners have been dedicated to introducing the beekeeping technologies and their benefits for farming society in the region. ICIPE S 4Hs PARADIGM IN TOLAY Though icipe is inspired by Tolay s huge potential for honey value chain development, its intervention is not limited to beekeeping, but also bringing together its 4H Science Paradigm: Human Health, Animal Health, Plant Health and Environmental Health. In the area, the icipe commenced with Tsetse Fly control operation that responds to Animal Health. This happened in The beekeeping project was launched in 2011 to respond to the environmental health challenges and economic needs. Human Health challenges addressed by the integrated vector management (IVM) project that helps to control the transmission of malaria, and the introduction of Push-Pull technology to control stemborers & striga which badly affect maize for the Plant Health Theme. Thus, Tolay is a legendary place that converges the four models in the beekeeping project operating area.

3 I N T E R N A T I O N A L C E N T R E O F I N S E C T P H Y S I O L O G Y A N D E C O L O G Y ( I C I P E ) Shferaw Driba, Boter Borro district administrator, is among the key respondents witnessing icipe s contribution in the area. He said, Any dwellers in this district can explain icipe and this project more than what I am BEEKEEPING INSPIRATIONS Partners and beneficiaries continue to applaud the outcomes of the project. The increasing demands of people to join is a clear indication how the project is going well and translated into impacts. Among other things, sustainable market linkage and organic certification of Tolay Natural Honey are results of groundbreaking transformation of the project. In line with this, Kedija Diga, sales woman in the Tolay Natural Honey Market Center, said: icipe, is our eye opener. A few years back, we didn t know about modern beekeeping and it was unthinkable the participation of women in such kind of business. Now, traditional practices and gender disparities have been broken with the help of icipe. Scaling up apiculture development In Tolay, the project began with a small number of unemployed and landless people, but it is now scaling out to over 800 direct beneficiaries in 10 villages. This improvement could not happen without strong collaborative efforts. saying. Shiferaw continues, from the beginning to current state, icipe did outstanding activities in apiculture development and other related interventions, such as: Push-Pull technology, malaria control, etc. Accordingly, on behalf of the district administration and the people, I honour to thank icipe for those astonishing achievements. We are working closely with local, national, regional and international partners to leverage the broader scientific expertise and to find beekeeping solutions together. So, we are mindful of the impact we have on livelihoods of the farming community and the environment through improving apiculture development, Luseged Belayhun, project manager, said. Shiferaw Driba, district administrator shares this argument: This project showed us a bright future. It is designed in a way that fits into regional and national priorities. We recognized the project as a pioneer in supporting the national agenda intending to ensure our food security. Therefore, we want to replicate these greatest achievements across the whole region. Records also indicate that several people are requesting to join in the membership of the beekeepers associations. Value chain development solutions Value chain development is one of the core values of the beekeeping project and several other icipe projects. To transform the traditional beekeeping practices into a sustainable and commercial subsector, essential supports (inputs supply, technical, capacity building, market linkages and infrastructure development for honey processing) are being provided.

4 icipe built infrastructure equipped with necessary facilities, such as offices, laboratories, storage, processing and packaging rooms, show rooms, and market place. icipe also became instrumental in qualifying organic testing and certification of the beekeeping product which in turn led to quality improvements. It helps strengthening sectors that closely work with the beekeepers, such as unions and cooperatives to create sustainable market opportunities, and enhancing linkages between honey producers and processor groups and local and international buyers. Transforming the practice of honey production from traditional to modern, the products and benefits are increased. This helps to drive livelihood changes for both direct and indirect beneficiaries. Now the farmers are producing quality honey and getting significant incomes. Further the practice of consuming healthy honey for food increases in the area. As Mr. Sileshi Betru, the manager of market place says, Tolay Natural honey is well known by its best quality and organic certification. We expanded our networks and destinations participating regularly in Trade fairs and Exhibitions, organized at national and international levels. Doing so, we received the certification of excellence award as the 3 rd best honey during ApiExpo Africa in Recently, we participated in the 9 th Ethiopia AGRO & FOOD Expo held in May 2016 and in the Oromia Cooperative Exhibition held from July 2017 at Debrezeit. Mr. Sileshi added: Our center accounts for 25-30% of the honey production in Oromia region. icipe is the main stimulator in facilitating sustainable market linkages and infrastructures. Tolay Natural Honey and the beekeepers don t have market problems and they could produce even more honey. There is no way for the producers to go far and spend their time in searching markets. This year, the market place collected 3350kg. Nevertheless, this doesn t show the total honey production, because the beekeepers produce more but do not supply it all. He continues explaining his impressions: I know several farmers changed their lives because of beekeeping, for instance very recently only one farmer supplied up to 200kg, which earns around 20,000 birr (1000USD). He may get the same amount of money in October and June. So, beekeeping has more comparative advantage than farming and some other businesses.

5 Picture: Mr. Sileshi showing the award certificate the Tolay Natural Honey received because of icipe Henceforth, icipe maintains the momentum of the value chain development in the apiculture subsector by providing support and resources needed to establish successful enterprises and linkages to the market. Food Security Biovision funded the icipe beekeeping project in Tolay which also significantly contributed to ensuring food and nutrition security. The project makes the area notable and unique in the production and consumption of quality honey. Nearly 25 percent of the total honey production remain at beekeepers home for consumption. members had no job before the introduction of this project. He quit his education due to lack of money, but now returned to school after 16 years to continue his study. This year, his association produced 900kg (15kg honey from each 60 hives) at every harvest. Beneficiaries from other associations also echoed similarly. The economic outcomes of the project reflected in different indicators. Several members of the beekeepers association produce quality honey and accumulated assets. They transformed their way of life from Tuklu to modern houses, able to send their children to school, to buy necessary goods and do side business. Economic benefits: From zero to economic hero icipe and Biovision are our economic liberators, Nasir Degefa, Wayu, beekeepers association chairman, explaining the economic benefits of the beekeeping. According to Nasir, all the association Shalema Etana, is among the top scorer of honey producers from Kemiso Gola village. He supplied 200kg to the market center and earned around

6 Picture: the beekeepers on technical and site trainings 20,000 Ethiopian Birr (ETB). He has 11 modern hives and bought the honey extractor with 6000 birr to improve honey quality and to produce wax. In addition, many beneficiaries engaged in different businesses; these included workshops (metal and wood work), transportation services, fattening and some others expanded their farming by renting land. Those practicing farming, were able to pay back their debts for fertilizers from the sales of bee products. All respondents said the beekeeping introduced by icipe/biovision is the base for their livelihood changes. The successes of the project remain printed in the memory of beneficiaries and all the dwellers of the district. Beekeeping and Gender icipe is notably known by its evidence-based research products and tools, facilitating learning, strengthening capacity building and uptake. It is also aspiring to encourage the participation of women and unemployed in the apicultural development. To this end, the project integrates gender across its activities to create more opportunities for females and address challenges to existing attitudes and practices that perpetuate gender inequalities in the beekeeping value chain. Zeinetu Yesuf from Wayu beekeepers association says, some years back honey production was not seen as socially acceptable for women. At the beginning of the project, there was only one women involved. Currently, out of 800 members, 250 are women. Now things have changed, and we are doing beekeeping well. The support from this project enables us to capitalize our efforts and helping us to change our livelihoods.

7 Picture: apiary site established by Wayu beekeeper s association Environmental benefits Pollination by bees and some multiple benefits of Apiculture are pro-environment. It demands more bee forage plantation and conservation of the environment, and provides an alternative income to the sale of forest products. As Nesiru said, when the Wayu beekeepers association handed over the land from the district administration in 2011, there was no tree in their apiary sites. They established by law to commence their operation through planting trees. Since then, the team planted 900 trees and transformed the sites into a forest within a short period of time, which created a conducive environment for agricultural development. They drilled wells to improve access to water for the dry season. Furthermore, the association also produce Maize on the site during the rainy season. This implies that the contribution of icipe is not limited to beekeeping, but also providing opportunities for crop production, and environmental protection. Infrastructure development and capacity building icipe has been investing in infrastructure development and capacity building to maintain the momentum of the apiculture development and improve the livelihoods of the community. Under the infrastructure development package, icipe built modern buildings to accommodate research and other different facilities. The buildings are equipped with laboratories, offices, honey storage and processing unit, display and sales rooms. The capacity building component is among the most important achievements of the project. So far, the beekeepers received several trainings on hive making, queer rearing, royal jelly production, honey processing, testing, packaging and business development skills. icipe s mandate further extends to conserving and utilising the rich insect biodiversity found in Africa. It contributes to sustainable food security through establishment of insect based enterprises, such as apiculture, that are sustainable, eco-friendly and synergistic, and that provide quick economic rewards to communities living in the forest areas. The underlying principle is to assist rural resource-poor communities to improve their livelihood, and to protect the natural environment, thus increasing the productivity and resilience of their farming systems and the natural resources, through uptake of these techniques. Tolay, is the beekeeping project area located in Oromiya Regional State of Ethiopia, 243km South West of Addis Ababa having great potential for quality honey production. The project is funded by BVF and implemented by icipe in 10 villages in collaboration with the Oromiya Regional Bureau of Agriculture.