Agroecological Experts Commend GLOHA’s Beekeeping Expansion Initiative

Global Hand Cameroon (GLOHA) was honored to receive Ms. Laura BIH and Mr. Cletus ZHU, agroecological experts from the Cameroon Government’s Food Security Project in the South West Region. Their visit aimed to assess the economic and ecological aspects of GLOHA’s beekeeping initiative, which aligns with the United Nation’s goals of enhancing community livelihoods, promoting environmental sustainability, and advancing climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies.

As part of our vision to expand the GLOHA apiary, we plan to acquire additional land and increase our beehive count by 125 Kenyan Top Bar Hives (KTBH). This expansion will boost our production capacity to over 1,500 liters of honey and related byproducts annually. But the apiary will be more than just a production site; it will also serve as a hands-on training facility for students and community members who desire to learn about modern beekeeping techniques.

In addition, the project will support youth employment. Over thirty young people will be engaged in transporting materials, maintaining the apiary, harvesting honey, and supporting marketing efforts, thus contributing to both economic empowerment and skills development.

During the field visit, Ms. BIH expressed satisfaction with GLOHA’s commitment to natural beekeeping practices, particularly our decision to avoid artificial feeding even during the rainy season. She encouraged us to scale up the processing and marketing of bee byproducts. Mr. ZHU recommended supplementing bee nutrition during the rainy season with organic waste such as spoiled fruit from vendors and corn residue from local brewers. He also emphasized the importance of planting more fruit trees and flowering plants to ensure a sustainable nectar flow.

Both experts praised the project’s design and its potential for success, especially with the planned increase in the number of beehives. Upon full implementation, the initiative is expected to enhance pollination services, increase bee populations, and strengthen ecosystem resilience. These outcomes will contribute significantly to long-term climate change mitigation and improved food security through higher agricultural yields.