Recently, ZeFFI trained 2o bee farmers on Good Climate Smart Agricultural Practices that ensure the sustainability and biodiversity. Target beneficiaries were purposely selected from community members that harvest honey from the wild bees using fire or dangerous chemicals.
Participants’ knowledge was improved on the implication of using fire for the harvest which kills the bees and, in most instances, result in wildfire, destroying people’s livelihoods, reserved forest, killing both plant and animals within the ecosystem.
Participants also had the opportunity to understand the implications of the use of insecticides for the harvest of wild honey. This will result in destruction of the ecosystem, and residues in the honey which when consumed by humans may lead to various health challenges.
The training was strategically organised at a time like this that we are approaching dry when the activities of wild honey harvesting will soon commence. The facilitator will ensure a follow up mentoring to ensure high rate of adoption. participants are urged to stepdown knowledge gained to their various communities.
Additionally, participants were taught how to sustainably increase their livelihoods through rearing bees intentionally, not only depending on the wild bees. Other benefits highlighted during the training had to do with the importance of beekeeping in pollination, and the advantages of bee farmers being organised into cooperatives.
Zero Waste and Food Foundation Initiative is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that is determined to ensure wastes in all aspects of life are brought to very minimal level. Their headquarters is in Jalingo, Taraba State, Nigeria. The training was facilitated by Dr. Williams Abwage, an expert in good afroforestry practices with the Taraba State University.