Bees are important service providers for agriculture as they pollinate food plants such as many types of fruits and vegetables. A reduction in the bee population can have a long-term damaging effect on a country’s agricultural production. Bees do not only pollinate food plants, but also trees and flowers in the environment, thereby contributing to intact ecosystems. Honey has a place in Ethiopia’s cultural tradition and is valued not only as a source of nutrition, but is also applied in traditional medicine.

This project, supported by Biovision, promotes traditional beekeepers and bee groups in Tolay to maintain healthy bees and honey production through practice-oriented instruction and training. Farming families are sensitised to the influence of a healthy environment on their living conditions and income generation, since bees need an intact ecosystem with flowering plants to produce honey and contribute to earnings for the family.

In courses, the beekeepers learn to increase their productivity and improve the quality of their honey using modernised methods and techniques. Through quantitively and qualitively improved production, people can sell their honey at local markets and generate additional income.