Honey value chain development

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development’s Biodiversity Management Programme (IGADBMP)is an initiative hosted and managed by the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF). Among otherwork packages, IGAD-BMP also focuses on value chains that are pro-poor and contribute tobiodiversity and ecosystem conservation.• A value chain refers to the entire system of production, processing and marketing of a particularproduct, from inception to the finished product.• Honey value chain (HVC) actors include beekeepers, local traders, home brewers and herbalists,consumers, producers, retailers, wholesalers and exporters.• In honey value chain development, identification of existing gaps in the value chain and narrowingthem down can have a profound impact in terms of increasing income for rural communities andconserving biodiversity.• Resident communities should be involved as partners or stakeholders to enable them safeguard theenvironment and ensure that it remains conducive for honey production. They could also providesecurity for apiary that includes hives and occupier bees from predators.• An apiary should be located in an area with a variety of flora, which should last all year around.• In order to build the community’ capacity in honey production, chain supporters shall be required.They include: artisan hive makers, money-lenders and microfinance institutions.• Technicians should be deployed for professional beehive management as well as quality control,processing and packaging.

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