Communities living in the buffer zone of Mágo National Park, in Tete province, central Mozambique, have received a new boost to turn beekeeping into a sustainable source of income and nature conservation, with the delivery of more than 3,000 items for honey production, processing and storage.
A total of 3,052 items were delivered to ten beekeepers’ associations in the districts of Mágoè and Cahora Bassa, directly benefiting 391 people living in the communities covered by the initiative.
The action is being promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries, through the Blue Economy Development Fund (ProAzul), in coordination with the National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC) and BIOFUND, with the aim of strengthening the beekeeping value chain and creating economic alternatives for people living near the conservation area.
Of the total items delivered, 2,377 are pieces of equipment for the beekeeping value chain, providing the associations with better conditions to increase production and improve honey quality.
The remaining 675 construction materials will be used by the communities themselves to build infrastructure for honey processing and storage.
Photo: Parque Nacional de Mágoè
The initiative seeks to address one of the main challenges faced by small-scale producers: a lack of equipment and suitable conditions to turn honey production into a more structured and profitable economic activity.
With better production equipment and appropriate infrastructure, communities will not only be able to increase their production capacity, but also improve the storage and processing of the product, creating conditions for greater value to be placed on honey in the market.
The initiative covers ten beekeepers’ associations, five in Cahora Bassa district and another five in Mágoè district.
Together, the associations represent 391 beneficiaries, who now have the means to develop beekeeping activities and strengthen their sources of income.
Photo: Parque Nacional de Mágoè
The focus on beekeeping also has an important environmental dimension, particularly in an area where communities live in direct proximity to a conservation area.
Creating economic opportunities linked to natural resources can help reduce pressure on the environment and encourage a more balanced relationship between communities and Mágoè National Park.
“Contribution to making communities’ dream a reality”
During the handover ceremony, Mágoè National Park Administrator Juliana Mwito highlighted the importance of the support received and thanked the partners involved in the initiative.
In particular, the official pointed to the contribution of the Blue Economy Development Fund (ProAzul) towards meeting the expectations of the communities.
“The contribution of ProAzul is fundamental to making the dream of communities living in the Buffer Zone of Mágoè National Park a reality.”
Photo: Parque Nacional de Mágoè
The acknowledgement reflects the importance of the partnership between public institutions, conservation organisations and the communities themselves in seeking solutions that reconcile economic development with environmental protection.
The handover of the goods therefore represents more than simply the distribution of equipment. The initiative seeks to create conditions for communities to participate actively in the local economy, making sustainable use of the potential of beekeeping.
In an area where biodiversity conservation needs to go hand in hand with improving people’s living conditions, strengthening beekeeping offers an opportunity to generate income without compromising natural resources.
The ceremony was attended by the Mágoè District Government, ANAC, Vale do Zambeze, the Institute for the Development of Small-Scale Fisheries and Aquaculture (IDEPA), local leaders and community representatives, signalling convergence among different stakeholders around an agenda of community development and conservation.
Photo: Parque Nacional de Mágoè
Photo: Parque Nacional de Mágoè
Photo: Parque Nacional de Mágoè
Photo: Parque Nacional de Mágoè
Source: AIM Moçambique
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