BeeKeeping
Beekeeping has been considered under the Kariba REDD+ projects as one of the measures that help mitigate deforestation as it allows members of the communities to jealously guard their forests from disasters like fires and unnecessary clearing of forests. Fires destroy bees and also forage for the bees hence an astute bee farmer will keep fires away from his beehives and surrounding vegetation so as to have good honey harvests. Forestry canopy/ cover provide good shelter and temperature for bees survival hence a bee farmer will not unnecessarily clear forests.
Bee farming also provides additional income for the farmers and is a very rich source of food for the human being thereby improving the livelihoods of the communities.
Above all bees are a source of pollination on our food crops and wild plants thereby keeping the life cycle in motion and hence are needed for the survival of the planet earth which makes beekeeping a critical component under the Kariba REDD+ project.
Beekeeping project has been implemented through the provision of training, education, resources such as beehives, bee suits, smokers and also markets for the honey. To date over 2000 beneficiaries across the project have been directly trained and benefitted from this project. Every year more and more members of the community are joining beekeeping training programs as they continue to see the benefits.
Please, see Map 1 below for distribution of beneficiaries of beekeeping activities implemented per ward.