Bee Keeping

COMACO has introduced modern, frame hive beekeeping and honey production as a way to provide dry season income while also keeping forested lands safe from fire and charcoal makers. Hundreds of COMACO farmers are realizing added income from honey production and they are coming to recognize the value of undeveloped wild land. Producers are taught improved ways of housing and managing their bee hives, how to harvest without damaging the hive, and ways to grade and store honey for market.  For example, many people picture a bee farmer using smoke to quiet the bees for honey harvest - but too much smoke can taint the flavor of the honey and reduce it’s value. Best of all, farmers learn to maintain area forests as apiaries for their organic honey.

Coming Soon: An audio-visual presentation on beekeeping Download Bee Keeping manual

COMACO farmers are taught how to harvest honey using a minimum of smoke, producing a high quality, tasty product. Beekeepers are also taught basic bee biology and become aware of the need for local water and wild-growing flowering plants. COMACO also teaches beekeepers that smoke from local field burning will not only taint honey but drive bees out of their hives in search of cleaner air. Honey production therefore discourages field burning and charcoal production near hives, making these destructive practices less attractive and replacing charcoal income. Over time, practicing proper hive management also results in increased bee populations, expanding a beekeepers capabilities naturally and providing further incentive for poper management.

Bee-keeping has become a popular activity among reformed poachers who train in skills to produce  alternative sources of income to poaching. These poachers-turned-beekeepers have become important auxiliary trainers in their communities and encourage the formation of new honey producer groups, and spreading the sweet philosophy of beekeeping. In addition to providing income through honey sales, beekeeping also supports poachers-turned-carpenters who do new beehive construction and employs CTC staff to strain, process and package the honey for sales as the sweetest IT’S WILD! Honey!