Bee A Champion 2 (BAC2) 2022-2024
Establishing a competitive and inclusive honey sector in Uganda.
Bee a champion 2: is a 3 year (2022- 2024) beekeeping project in Uganda funded by the Norwegian agency for development (NORAD). The project is implemented by a consortium of 5 who include; Woord en Daad a faith based organization in Netherlands as the lead partner, The Uganda National Apiculture Development Organization TUNADO, Trias – Uganda, Läkarmissionen and World of Bees (U) Ltd. BAC2 comes as a build up to the successful implementation of Bee a champion 1 that was implemented in three RTCs of Bunyangabu beekeepers cooperative, Arid land development program and Arua market women honey traders association which ended in December 2021.
Some of the achievements registered under BAC1 include;
Introduction of the rural transformation centre model of beekeeping in Karamoja, West Nile and Mid-West. The model has been widely appreciated by both government (specifically, Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and fisheries-(MAAIF) and as a result, MAAIF used it as a base to develop a 10-year strategy for commercializing apiculture in Uganda.
Promotion and profiling of multipurpose tree crops such as Hass avocado, macadamia and cashew nuts with their economic and ecosystem benefits especially for families with small land holding. Led to their inclusion on the list of priority commodities for promotion under the PDM for poverty reduction.
Introduction of the RTC model equally resulted into improved relationship between beekeepers and RTCs which enabled them to source 202.9MT of honey in 2021 up from 20.3MT at baseline in 2019.
Additionally, under the BAC1, TUNADO was able to adapt and tailor several applications to beekeeping to improve business management such as 1) Kucheza (farming forward): a game-based learning approach that uses digital games to let beekeepers understand and work with the economic relationship between inputs and outputs and managing their farm as a business 2) Sevi fintech app an IT platform and app for financial service providers (FSPs), that makes their financial services (loans, transactions, pay in instalments, etc.) more efficient. 3) Farmer Link: is a data platform that allows beekeepers to link professionally and meaningfully with their producer group, clients, suppliers and financiers.
BAC2 is here to build on the successes of BAC1. And was designed to reach 2750 beekeepers and create an inclusive and internationally competitive apiculture sector in Uganda that offers income generating opportunities for new and existing beekeepers.
BAC2 will have a slightly wider scope of implementation and will focus its operations in the districts of Ibanda, Mbarara, Isingiro Shema, Rubirizi, kisoro and Bushenyi Districts) in South Western, Bunyangabu, Kabarole, Ntoroko and Kasese Districts in Mid-Western, Mubende district in Central Region, Zombo, Arua and Nebbi in west Nile and Abim, Kotido napak and moroto in North Eastern.
During implementation, the project will work towards achieving the impact pathways below,
- IP 2, improved livelihoods for refugees and hosting communities’ representatives, through the BONGA approach: to be coordinated by International Aid Services Uganda / LM
- IP 3, improved market access for beekeepers through expansion of Rural Transformation Centres (RTC): Tunado
- IP 4, capacitated beekeepers receive access to finance: to be coordinated by Trias Uganda
- IP 5, increased export of traceable high-quality beeswax to the international market: to be coordinated by World of Bees
RTCS participating in the project are;
- Bunyangabu beekeepers cooperative
- Arua market women honey traders association
- Delta bees Uganda ltd
- Bee house products ltd
- Kisoro beekeepers Cooperative
- Arid land development programme
While we implement BAC2, TUNADO is working tirelessly to upscale the RTC model to mid-North (Lango and Acholi sub regions and Eastern region (Busoga, Bugisu and Teso)