Sweet success: Rural Women find economic independence through sustainable beekeeping practices

Monday, October 21st, 2024 | By

In rural Kapeke Sub County in Kiboga district, Kapeke Women Beekeepers Group has discovered beekeeping as a sweet path to economic independence. The group is fostering their lives, fostering resilience and self-sufficiency while protecting the environment.

Sarah Kamyuka, the group chairperson says beekeeping was initially scary for women but continuous training and learning from Community Green Radio, they have slowly embraced the idea.

“Women feared bees but poverty frightens more. Women have overcome beekeeping anxieties through hands on training and bee keeping programs on radio have motivated many women to start the business. The group started when we were like 10 but we are now over 30 in my community,” said Kamyuka.

To date, the group earns about 2,000,000 Uganda shillings per harvest from sales of honey and created value addition through other bee related products like propolis and candles. The profit is re-invested in production processes to increase their harvest and improve their quality.

Kamyuka says they are also planting indigenous trees to support their beekeeping business and this has contributed towards environmental conservation.

Julius Kyamanywa, the station Manager for Community Green Radio, believes that such projects are helping women to transform their lives at the same time conserving the environment. He applauded the women, who are also members of Kapeke Green Radio listeners club, for embracing such environmental friendly initiatives in sustaining their incomes and conserving the environment.