From Hives to Hope: How Beekeeping is Changing Lives in Ethiopia
When Wogayehu, 39, learned that Project Ethiopia was launching a training for women who wanted to learn beekeeping skills and marketing opportunities, she was eager to be included in the new initiative. Along with 99 other women from 11 of the 35 kebeles (communities) in Project Ethiopia’s service area, Wogayehu started her training this past March.
Prior to the training, Wogayehu owned three traditional beehives which are cylindrical, single-chambered structures constructed of local materials like straw, bamboo, and mud. Only one of the beehives was home to a bee colony. Her 2024 honey production was approximately 5 kg of raw honey (honey along with the wax), 4kg of which she sold at the local market for 600 birr ($8) per kilo. In March, Wogayehu received three modern beehives from Project Ethiopia and will also soon receive three bee colonies that will prepare her to produce export grade honey, a higher quality product that she can sell for 800 birr ($6) per kilo.
At the first training provided by Project Ethiopia Country Director Workineh Genetu, Wogayehu and the other participants learned about general knowledge related to beekeeping including the importance of bees to the ecosystem, the different types of bees in the colony, site selection, beehive management, and the economic impact of beekeeping. In the upcoming trainings from May – August, participants will learn about transfering a bee colony, printing and fixing quality wax to the hive, controlling bee enemies, and honey harvesting and management.
Already, the support from Project Ethiopia is making a big difference for Wogayehu. “I enjoy beekeeping, but I have never had the opportunity before to receive training so detailed, deep and clear like this. Always I was wondering, why only a few beekeepers are so productive? In this training I learned that the difference is knowledge and appropriate equipment. I am looking forward to the second and third training with pleasure and I am hopeful that my annual honey production and income with grow significantly. This is a windfall opportunity!"
Visit https://beetheone.project-ethiopia.org/en/donate to join our beekeeping campaign and stay tuned to learn how Wogayehu and other women beekeepers like her benefit from Project Ethiopia’s support this year.
