Establish Bee Forage

Bee Forage Plants
The Wampiti Beekeepers Association has over 80 members from different parts of Nakasongola and this is the smallest fraction of beekeepers in Nakasongola District. Most members are above 40 years of age and have families they take care of. Women are more active in the group and focused compared to men. Youths are fewer compared to the number of men and women in WBA.

Currently, the total number of hives possessed by WBA is over 1300 hives and 90% are log hives.
Beekeeping is facing a challenge today particularly in Nakasongola due to limited bee forage plants, some of which is caused by charcoal burning. Most people in Nakasongola depend on tree cutting to produce charcoal which they sell to earn money. Charcoal burning became a serious activity in Nakasongola in early 1990s but this has left many places with no trees. This is due to lack of sensitization by the government to the local people.

Nakasongola was once a hardwood producing area unlike today where it is known for best quality charcoal.
The change is very unfortunate because the best nectar producing plant, can take between 10 to 15 years before flowering stage. These plants are the best charcoal producing trees.
Beekeepers in Wampiti and other communities in Nakasongola were united by WBA to develop commercial beekeeping in order to increase on their income. This attracted many people and since a lot of skills and knowledge have been acquired over the past years, beekeeping became so serious that now the resources [nectar] have become insufficient.

Orange plants

A productive mango tree in Wampiti

A productive orange plant

Farming in Nakasongola is on a small scale therefore crops provide limited flowers; many families grow little and sometimes not enough for their family.

Last year 2015, the general assembly raised a concern on limited bee forage plants and the following solutions were proposed: Beekeepers should identify the bee forage plants which grow in their farm and protect the existing bee forage plants by fencing off the area where possible.

The above solutions were put into practice straight away by the beekeepers and friends who are non-members of WBA. Most beekeepers installed hives in the areas with bee foraging plants in order to save the trees from being cut down. Some beekeepers fenced off the areas.

A flowering moringa tree

Members are also growing local varieties of oranges and mangoes which are hard to bring up from seedlings and take long to reach flowering stages [between 7 to 9 years]. Orange and mango plants would benefit members twice since they provide nectar to bees and thereafter give fruits to growers who would sell it and earn more.


Beekeepers have also tried to plant trees such as Moringa which grow fast and reach flowering stage early.
The core objective of founding Wampiti Beekeepers Association was to release tree cutting pressure through creating income generating activities via beekeeping and installing hives in forests which acts as a buffer.

Amidst the campaign of establishing and maintaining bee forage plants, the following challenges have been encountered:
1. The best nectar producing plants take between 10 to 15 years before reaching flowering stage.
2. The local varieties of Mango and Orange plants also take between 5 to 7 years before they start flowering.
3. Improved and grafted varieties of orange and mango plants which reach flowering stage at 2 years are available at $3 each plant and members can’t afford it though the cost reduces when bought in bulk from the tree nurseries.

Therefore, more guidance and advice is needed to impact the establishment of bee forage plants to give smiles to bees and honey lovers.