Bees Save Trees

Objectives achieved
WBA was founded with a core objective of uniting beekeepers to share information openly concerning beekeeping and other issues. The second core objective was to use beekeeping as a tool to stop massive tree cutting for charcoal by local people.

Before the establishment of WBA, every beekeeper was on his own way; problems and successes in the bee yards were not shared. For example when one harvests honey (at night) and you visit that home the following day (would see bees buzzing around the home in search for the honey), the family would deny the presence of honey in the house though the buzzing bees would signal its presence.
When members joined WBA, that issue was addressed. Members were encouraged to share information with others; for example if one finds honey in his or her hive, he or she should immediately call and let others know and ask them to check for honey in their hives too. Members now visit other member’s apiaries for sourcing more knowledge and skills.

Teamwork is also realized; members now days invite fellow members to go and help them in case need arise. Non-WBA members have also started being open by telling what is happening in their apiaries and visiting WBA members for knowledge. Before, beekeepers had myths such as when a non-family member goes into the bee yard, the bees don’t produce honey.

Bees have played a big role in protecting trees from being cut down by people for charcoal burning. Most beehives are installed under trees; therefore they protect the trees where they are including the surrounding areas in almost a radius of 60metres. Members are also securing trees in favour of bees in the sense that the bees need nectar from flowers produced by trees. This is realized through a campaign known as “save a tree for my bees”.

Good honey markets have been obtained by the beekeepers. Unlike before where every beekeeper would negotiate in the market individually and this led to many beekeepers being cheated. Today when a WBA member lands a good market, he or she immediately alerts the fellow members. This has helped lot of beekeepers from being cheated by honey traders. Before a kilogram of honey was bought at $1 sometimes less but now it sells at $2-$3 per kilogram.

No more visiting beehives at night. Big thanks to friends from overseas who helped us to learn how to manipulate bees during day time. Members know smokers and know why they need them; and so the bees are just turned into flies!

Female beekeepers are actively involved. The traditional/ cultural chains were broken by WBA! Women are more actively committed than men. Before, culture and norms were not allowing women to keep bees because men believed that women are cursed and so their hives can’t produce honey and so they were not allowed to keep bees!

Thanks to everyone who has made everything possible and achievable by WBA.
Bees are now our pets!