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Honey harvesters and cooperative processing in Amhara, Ethiopia
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Women from the village of Mecha, dressed in protective clothing, during a workshop at the Ambrosia beekeeping demonstration and training centre in Mecha.
Harvesting honey supplements the income of small farmers in the Ethiopian region of Amhara where there is a long tradition of honey production. However, without the resources to properly invest in production and the continued use of of traditional, low-yielding hives, farmers have not been able to reap proper reward for their labour.
The formation of the Zembaba Bee Products Development and Marketing Cooperative Union is an attempt to realize the potential of honey production in Amhara and ensure that the benefits reach small producers.
By providing modern, high-yield hives, protective equipment and training to beekeepers, the Cooperative Union helps increase production and secure a steady supply of honey for which there is growing demand both in and beyond Ethiopia. The collective processing, marketing and distribution of Zembaba's "Amar" honey means that profits stay within the cooperative network of 3,500 beekeepers rather than being passed onto brokers and agents. The Union has signed an agreement with the multinational Ambrosia group to supply honey to the export market.
Zembaba Bee Products Development and Marketing Cooperative Union also provides credit to individual members and trains carpenters in the production of modern hives.
Photo: Tom Pietrasik
Mecha, Amhara. Ethiopia
November 17th 2010
Harvesting honey supplements the income of small farmers in the Ethiopian region of Amhara where there is a long tradition of honey production. However, without the resources to properly invest in production and the continued use of of traditional, low-yielding hives, farmers have not been able to reap proper reward for their labour.
The formation of the Zembaba Bee Products Development and Marketing Cooperative Union is an attempt to realize the potential of honey production in Amhara and ensure that the benefits reach small producers.
By providing modern, high-yield hives, protective equipment and training to beekeepers, the Cooperative Union helps increase production and secure a steady supply of honey for which there is growing demand both in and beyond Ethiopia. The collective processing, marketing and distribution of Zembaba's "Amar" honey means that profits stay within the cooperative network of 3,500 beekeepers rather than being passed onto brokers and agents. The Union has signed an agreement with the multinational Ambrosia group to supply honey to the export market.
Zembaba Bee Products Development and Marketing Cooperative Union also provides credit to individual members and trains carpenters in the production of modern hives.
Photo: Tom Pietrasik
Mecha, Amhara. Ethiopia
November 17th 2010
