ARUD's Approach

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Mr. Muhindo Semu gave some figures on outputs of hives: one log hive gives up to 150 kg
Comb honey per year (50kg per harvest x 3 harvests); one top-bar hive yields up to 90 kg honey Comb per year (30kg per harvest x 3 harvests). They had not harvested anything from the frame Hives that had only just been sited. ARUD has started a savings and credit scheme for the bee keepers, where members make weekly Contributions. Members can borrow money from the savings account and Pay back with 10% Interest; the scheme is working well.

The exercise also revealed a number of insights into the industry as a whole and the main
Challenges faced by stakeholders. A major finding was the very poor development of the supply chain. Honey buyers often claim that the main constraint in the industry and for their business is low honey production. However, the findings from this assessment revealed that this interpretation is an oversimplification of more complex problems. Buyers suffer from low supply, which is not always caused by low production by beekeepers, but instead is caused by factors such as inadequate organization among beekeepers, which means they do not market collectively. This creates supply Problems for buyers. Relationships between buyers and beekeepers are not well developed and remain opportunistic, even for the well-established, more formal buyers. Buyers often lack adequate finance, which means they cannot buy all the honey they need when it is available. This is discouraging for beekeepers. Another reason for low production is a low incentive to produce, rather than an inadequate means to produce. This is an important distinction because while the latter may be apparently solved by the provision of equipment, the former and real problem is not solved by the provision of equipment. The low incentive to produce is caused by beekeepers not approaching honey production as a business, production profits being slashed by the introduction of expensive equipment, and low satisfaction when it comes to selling honey. Beekeepers are often uncertain of how, to whom and at what price they should sell honey. This creates uncertainty that in turn depresses the incentive to invest in increased production.

These insights are important and help support the Project implementation approach that is based on building the capacity of producers and buyers to do business and trade profitably. Many of the lessons that the Project has drawn from the assessment are relevant to other stakeholders working to support and strengthen honey trade in Uganda.