Category: 2026

Fako Mead was recently featured in an article and interview by Sarah Nduma Ewumbua in Cameroon Business Today (13-19 May 2026).  We reprint them here.

From Beehives to Bottles: Fako Mead is Wine Manufactured from Honey

The honey wine is made from pure bee extract harvested around Mount Cameroon, one of Africa’s richest biodiversity hotspots.

Sarah Nduma Ewumbua, Cameroon Business Today, 13-19 May 2026

Since 2019, a locally made honey wine known as Fako Mead has been quietly carving a niche for itself in the South West Region’s growing agro-processing sector.  Produced in Buea by Global Hand Cameroon, the product is the brainchild of its Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Ewambe Thompson Atra, a beekeeper turned wine producer with a passion for value addition and natural health products.

Fako Mead is made from pure honey harvested around Mount Cameroon, one of Africa’s richest biodiversity hotspots.  With about 2,000 different species of trees, the Mount Cameroon ecosystem gives the honey unique medicinal properties, which the producer says are transferred into the wine.  “The quality of the honey is the foundation of the mead.  When harvested, some of the honey is sold directly, some consumed, and the rest transformed into wine,” Ewambe explained.  To enhance both taste and health value, fruits such as pineapple and selected herbs are added during production, giving the honey wine a distinctive flavour and medicinal appeal.  The result is a natural beverage that blends tradition, nutrition, and innovation.

Currently, about 90 bottles are produced monthly, with each bottle sold at FCFA 5,000.  Marketing is largely done online and through face-to-face sales, relying on word of mouth and social media to reach customers.

Despite its potential, the journey of Fako Mead has not been without challenges.  Weather conditions pose a major difficulty, as rising temperatures can disrupt the fermentation process, sometimes forcing production to start all over again.  Packaging is another hurdle, with limited access to appropriate materials and equipment.  In addition, the lack of certification prevents the product from being sold in wine shops and formal markets across the country.  Filtration remains imperfect, as production relies on local methods due to a lack of modern equipment, affecting clarity and large-scale consistency.

Nevertheless, Fako Mead stands as a symbol of Made-in-Cameroon innovation, showcasing how local resources like honey can be transformed into value-added products with economic and health benefits.  With improved equipment, better packaging, and proper certification, Fako Mead could one day secure a place on shelves nationwide and beyond bringing the taste of Mount Cameroon to a wider audience.

On the Spot: “Honey was within My Reach, So I Turned It Into Wine”

Ewambe Thompson Atra, CEO, Global Hand Cameroon

Interviewed by Sarah Nduma Ewumbua, Cameroon Business Today, 13-19 May 2026

What inspired you to start producing honey wine?

I am a beekeeper and I have always wanted to work independently.  While working with the Global Landscapes Forum in Cameroon, an organization that focuses on conservation, I developed a strong interest in beekeeping.  Since honey was readily available from my beehives, I realized that I could add more value to it by transforming it into honey wine.  I began experimenting with honey wine production in 2019, and in 2020, when I got married, I produced my first batch and served it at my wedding reception.  From that moment, the idea continued to grow and people in my community started placing orders.

What challenges do you face in producing and marketing the product?

One of the main challenges I face is the weather.  Sometimes when the temperature becomes very hot, the fermentation process can restart.  This affects the stability of the product.  Another challenge is the lack of proper equipment and financial resources.  For example, the filtration process is not very efficient because we mostly use locally available means.  When transferring the wine from one container to another, the residue sometimes mixes and we do it all over.  Certification is also a challenge because without certification we cannot sell the wine in supermarkets or large stores.  For now, we mainly market our product locally through face-to-face sales and online status updates.

What are your future plans for expanding your business?

My long-term goal is to significantly increase production and improve the quality of the product.  Currently, I can produce about 90 bottles per month, but I would like to reach a production capacity of about 2,000 bottles or more per month.  To achieve this, I will need better equipment such as large fermenters, preferably three 500-liter fermentation tanks, which will help improve both fermentation and filtration.  I also hope to get official certification for the product and register my honey farm so that it can be recognized by the government.  With certification and better equipment, I will be able to supply larger markets like supermarkets.  In the future, when production increases and costs decrease, I hope to reduce the price of the wine from FCFA 5,000 per bottle to around FCFA 2,500 so that more people can afford it.

Global Hand Cameroon recently conducted an assessment of cocoa farms in Kuke Kumbu, a village near the northern border of Mount Cameroon National Park, as part of our effort to better understand the challenges faced by cocoa farmers and identify practical solutions for sustainable agricultural development.

The assessment brought together farmers, agricultural facilitators, and community leaders to review plantation conditions and identify key constraints affecting yields. Findings showed widespread aging cocoa trees, declining productivity, and gaps in plantations caused by dead or unproductive trees. Farmers also cited limited access to improved techniques, inadequate planting materials, and the impact of climate‑related changes on crop performance.

To address these issues, Global Hand Cameroon plans to introduce capacity-building programs focused on smart agriculture techniques. These training sessions are expected to equip farmers with modern and sustainable farming methods, including proper pruning, soil fertility management, disease control, climate-smart cultivation practices, and efficient farm maintenance. We also plan to support farm rehabilitation by distributing improved cocoa seedlings to replace old trees and fill empty spaces within existing plantations.

Community members welcomed the initiative, saying it has great potential to revitalize cocoa production and encourage youth participation in agriculture. Global Hand Cameroon reaffirmed its commitment to promoting sustainable agriculture, improving food security, and strengthening rural livelihoods through direct engagement with farming communities.

Community-based environmental restoration efforts received a major boost this week as Global Hand Cameroon announced the successful follow-up and operational strengthening of a satellite tree nursery in Kuke Kumbu village.  The nursery was established by Mount Cameroon National Park with funds from the Programme for the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources in the South West Region (PSMNR-SWR). With a production capacity of seven thousand seedlings, the nursery is expected to play a vital role in restoring degraded landscapes, rebuilding wildlife habitat, combating forest loss, and improving local livelihoods through the sale of seedlings.

Located in an area increasingly affected by deforestation, unsustainable farming practices and climate-related environmental degradation, the nursery is seen as a practical solution to promote ecological recovery while generating economic opportunities for residents. The seedlings will be distributed to farmers, conservation groups, schools, and local communities engaged in tree planting and land rehabilitation activities.

The initiative is expected to contribute significantly to reversing forest loss in the region by encouraging large-scale tree planting and promoting environmentally friendly land-use practices. Environmental experts note that restoring tree cover can help reduce soil erosion, improve water retention, enhance soil fertility, and provide habitats for wildlife species threatened by habitat destruction.

Beyond its environmental benefits, the nursery is also becoming an economic asset for the community, as local residents will generate income through the sale of seedlings to reforestation projects, farmers, and development organizations. Youths and women’s groups are among the key beneficiaries participating in the initiative.

During the follow-up visit, representatives of Global Hand Cameroon emphasized the importance of community ownership to ensure the long-term success of the project. Community leaders welcomed the project, expressing optimism that the nursery will encourage environmental stewardship while reducing poverty and unemployment.

The follow-up mission also reviewed seedling survival, infrastructure, water access, and participation, recommending stronger technical support and improved irrigation.

As Cameroon faces rising climate and deforestation challenges, the Kuke Kumbu nursery shows how local action can advance national restoration goals. Global Hand Cameroon hopes to introduce and expand similar projects in the area, reaffirming its commitment protecting ecosystems while improving the livelihoods of rural populations.

Mount Cameroon National Park and GLOHA Support 35 Community Members with Sustainable Pig Farming Initiative

As we recently reported, studies conducted in the Mount Cameroon National Park (MCNP) revealed that this globally recognized biodiversity hotspot has lost a significant portion of its forest cover. The primary drivers of this degradation include agricultural encroachment, wild honey harvesting, and poaching—particularly the destructive practice of hunting with fire. If this trend continues, the ecological integrity of the park and its valuable forest resources face serious long‑term threats.

To safeguard the heritage of MCNP, the Park Service has intensified efforts under one of its three strategic pillars: promoting sustainable livelihood activities within surrounding communities. As part of this initiative, GLOHA, acting as a Local Support Organization (LSO), carried out sensitization campaigns targeting poachers, bush‑meat vendors, and repentant hunters. Through this engagement, potential beneficiaries were identified to be trained and supported in establishing integrated pig farming enterprises as alternative sources of income.

A total of 35 beneficiaries from four clusters have successfully completed a comprehensive two‑day training program on pig farming as a viable business. The training covered seven essential modules, including mindset transformation; pig housing, equipment, and animal care; establishment and management of a pig farm; feeding and ration formulation; healthcare and farm administration; reproductive cycle management; and bookkeeping and financial literacy.

With funding from the Program for the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources – South West Region (PSMNR‑SWR), the project will now move into its implementation phase. Each trained beneficiary will receive a wooden pig pen, four piglets (3 months old), basic farming tools and water storage drums, and six months of pig feed, after which beneficiaries assume full responsibility for their projects.

Project sustainability is ensured through continuous follow‑up and a “passing‑on‑the‑gift” system. Each beneficiary commits to supporting the next cohort by providing two piglets from their first production cycle. Additionally, all participants have signed a compliance note, pledging to uphold and support conservation practices within MCNP.

This integrated approach not only reduces pressure on the park’s natural resources but also empowers community members with dignified, sustainable livelihoods, thus strengthening both conservation outcomes and community resilience.

Agricultural Encroachment in Protected Areas (Mount Cameroon National Park)

Following our 2026 survey on forest and land use around Mount Cameroon National Park, findings show that the park has lost an unprecedented number of hectares as a result of agricultural encroachment. Mount Cameroon National Park covers 58,178 hectares and is bordered by 41 communities, many of which rely heavily on forest resources.

Before the park was created in 2009, these communities managed the forest through traditional systems that recognized ancestral forests and respected cultural restrictions on certain plants and animals. This approach supported abundant natural resources for both residents and newcomers. However, the region’s hospitality has attracted a great many migrants from other parts of Cameroon and Nigeria, increasing population pressure around the park.

This growing and diverse population has significantly altered land use and the landscape along the park’s periphery. In some areas—particularly in the Bomboko communities—cultural and traditional values that once guided resource use are no longer widely observed, especially among visiting populations. As a result, forest exploitation practices have begun to shift in harmful ways.

The establishment of the park in 2009 was therefore essential to protect and sustain key forest resources. Local NGOs and Community-Based Organizations like Global Hand expanded sensitization efforts across the 41 surrounding communities. Conservation bonuses were introduced to reward communities that adopted best practices, helping to reinforce conservation norms.

Despite these efforts, forest use patterns changed drastically between 2017 and 2026. Forest exploitation increased sharply, with some communities expanding farms right up to the park boundary (there is no existing buffer zone), while others have established farms inside the park itself. Current estimates indicate that active farms now encroach on approximately 3,982 hectares of park land.

Overall, in less than a decade, roughly 6,000 hectares of forest cover—and the carbon sink it represents—have been lost.

The encroachment survey was successfully conducted by GLOHA under a collaborative agreement between the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife (MINFOF) and the Programme for the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources in the South West Region (PSMNR-SWR). The exercise benefited from the technical guidance, institutional support, and cooperation of both partners, whose commitment to sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation made the activity possible. Appreciation is also extended to local stakeholders, community representatives, and field personnel whose participation and contributions facilitated the effective implementation of the survey and the achievement of its objectives.

In response, through the collaborative agreement, the technical, financial and institutional support from MINFOF/MCNP and PSMNR-SWR, GLOHA intends to intensify sensitization efforts, support forest regeneration in the affected areas, and monitor forest conditions over the next five to six years.