The buzz about bees and poverty alleviation: Identifying drivers and barriers of beekeeping in sub-Saharan Africa

Amulen, Deborah Ruth; D’Haese, Marijke; Ahikiriza, Elizabeth; Agea, Jacob Godfrey; Jacobs, Franciscus; Graaf, Dirk C. de; Smagghe, Guy; Cross, Paul

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0172820

Cited by 30 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…enforcing anti-hunting laws, removing invasive predators) without a focus on habitat so we treat these as separate attributes. Similarly, the provision of alternative livelihoods does not inherently involve active community participation and decision making in a conservation project [ 44 ] which is why these are included as separate attributes. In order to make sure respondents understood the task, each attribute, and the vocabulary used in the survey, a pilot study was conducted (n = 14).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

To what extent do potential conservation donors value community-aspects of conservation projects in low income countries?

2018

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There is a major gap in funding required for conservation, especially in low income countries. Given the significant contribution of taxpayers in industrialized countries to funding conservation overseas, and donations from membership organisation, understanding the preferences of ordinary people in a high income country for different attributes of conservation projects is valuable for future marketing of conservation. We conducted a discrete choice experiment with visitors to a UK zoo, while simultaneously conducting a revealed preference study through a real donation campaign on the same sample. Respondents showed the highest willingness to pay for projects that have local community involvement in management (95% confidence interval £9.82 to £15.83), and for improvement in threatened species populations (£2.97 - £13.87). Both of these were significantly larger than the willingness to pay for projects involving provision of alternative livelihoods, or improving the condition of conservation sites. Results of the simultaneous donation campaign showed that respondents were very willing to donate the suggested £1 or above donation (88% made a donation, n = 1798); there was no effect of which of the two campaigns they were exposed to (threatened species management or community involvement in management). The small number of people who did not make a donation had a higher stated willingness to pay within the choice experiment, which may suggest hypothetical bias. Conservationists increasingly argue that conservation should include local communities in management (for both pragmatic and moral reasons). It is heartening that potential conservation donors seem to agree.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

To what extent do potential conservation donors value community-aspects of conservation projects in low income countries?

2018

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“…Ugandan beekeepers harvest just 1% of the estimated production potential of 500,000 tonnes [11]. Low production is attributed to several factors including weak policies, investment and knowledge exchange between stakeholders [6,12]. The greatest potential to increase beekeeping yields resides in northern Uganda where 60% of households own beehives [13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimating the potential of beekeeping to alleviate household poverty in rural Uganda

et al. 2019

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Robust evidence underpinning the role of beekeeping in poverty alleviation is currently lacking. This study estimated the production potential for beekeepers in Northern Uganda by quantifying current production assets (equipment and knowledge) and impact on rural income streams range of proposed interventions. Intervention scenarios evaluated the economic benefits to be derived from different hive types combined with year-round provision of a nectar source ( Calliandra calothyrsus ) planted at varying density. Findings show that the type and number of beehive combinations used influenced the amount of revenue streams generated by the beekeepers. Addition of 20 log hives increased incomes 10 times, 20 KTBs increased revenues 16 times and Langstroth 18 times. Adding Calliandra trees as a forage source to the baseline scenario yielded revenues up to 17.6 times higher than the baseline. Implying that good management plus the introduction of a reliable nectar source, to off-set dry season challenges (absconding), could improve beekeeping productivity in Northern Uganda. Further research is required to validate in situ the impact of modelled scenarios on both honey yield and other ecosystem service benefits.

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“…The relative functionality of managed bees can determine their productivity, which in turn has the potential to negatively affect those African households and businesses reliant upon bee products to sustain their well-being [12]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental contaminants of honeybee products in Uganda detected using LC-MS/MS and GC-ECD

et al. 2017

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Pollinator services and the development of beekeeping as a poverty alleviating tool have gained considerable focus in recent years in sub-Saharan Africa. An improved understanding of the pervasive environmental extent of agro-chemical contaminants is critical to the success of beekeeping development and the production of clean hive products. This study developed and validated a multi-residue method for screening 36 pesticides in honeybees, honey and beeswax using LC-MS/MS and GC-ECD. Of the 36 screened pesticides, 20 were detected. The highest frequencies occurred in beeswax and in samples from apiaries located in the proximity of citrus and tobacco farms. Fungicides were the most prevalent chemical class. Detected insecticides included neonicotinoids, organophosphates, carbamates, organophosphorus, tetrazines and diacylhydrazines. All detected pesticide levels were below maximum residue limits (according to EU regulations) and the lethal doses known for honeybees. However, future risk assessment is needed to determine the health effects on the African genotype of honeybees by these pesticide classes and combinations of these. In conclusion, our data present a significant challenge to the burgeoning organic honey sector in Uganda, but to achieve this, there is an urgent need to regulate the contact routes of pesticides into the beehive products. Interestingly, the “zero” detection rate of pesticides in the Mid-Northern zone is a significant indicator of the large potential to promote Ugandan organic honey for the export market.

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The buzz about bees and poverty alleviation: Identifying drivers and barriers of beekeeping in sub-Saharan Africa

Cited by 30 publications

References 21 publications

To what extent do potential conservation donors value community-aspects of conservation projects in low income countries?

To what extent do potential conservation donors value community-aspects of conservation projects in low income countries?

Estimating the potential of beekeeping to alleviate household poverty in rural Uganda

Environmental contaminants of honeybee products in Uganda detected using LC-MS/MS and GC-ECD

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