The ancient practice of beekeeping, which produces millions of pounds of honey annually to meet a growing worldwide demand, can be a boon for smallholder farmers in West Africa whose incomes have been hard hit during the COVID-19 pandemic and is further being impacted by climate change. A Zoom webinar held Feb. 24, titled “Farm to Beehive: Why Introducing Farmers to Beekeeping is a Win for Farmers, Agribusinesses & the Environment," highlighted this.
The webinar was designed to serve as a starting point to encourage non-governmental organizations and agribusinesses that already work with West African farmers to learn how supporting farmer beekeeping initiatives can be used to boost farmers’ incomes, grow companies’ bottom lines, and assist in conservation efforts. It included presentations on the positive economic and environmental benefits of supporting beekeeping initiatives, as well as presentations and a panel discussion by representatives of Koster Keunen, Universal Outreach Foundation, and Burt’s Bees—three companies with experience launching and bolstering beekeeping initiatives in West Africa.
The webinar was co-hosted by the USAID-funded West Africa Trade & Investment Hub, the USAID-funded West Africa Biodiversity and Low Emissions Development project, and the Global Shea Alliance, funded in part by USAID.
