GCP/RAF/408/EC « MOBILISATION ET RENFORCEMENT DES CAPACITES DES PETITES ET MOYENNES ENTREPRISES IMPLIQUEES DANS LES FILIERES DES PRODUITS FORESTIERS NON LIGNEUX EN AFRIQUE CENTRALE » Avec l’appui financier de la Commission Européenne

Southwest Honey Federation Regional Meeting Report

Buea, 15th May 2008

Le présent document a été réalisé avec la participation financière de l'Union européenne. Les opinions qui y sont exprimées ne peuvent en aucun cas être considérées comme reflétant la position officielle de l'Union européenne.

Context This meeting constitutes part of the ongoing effort aimed at reinforcing the capacities of small and medium size enterprise involved in the exploitation of non-forest timber products within the central African region. As was presented at the beginning of the meeting/workshop by the SNV Highlands Team Leader, the institutional development in the honey sector requires that actors in the apiculture sector to be organised at various levels of bee beekeepers’ structures. This should form a better base for their resources mobilization and mutual benefit from other partners, both at national and international levels. This is a second regional meeting of bee farmers organised within the framework of the project after the one of the North West that took place in October 2007. This activity is one of the recommendations of the Honey Marketing forum which was organised by actors in the sector in Limbe in November 2006.

Objectives of the workshop • Improved Institutional strengthening of the South West bee farmers Union • Analyse Sector priorities for FAO/SNV 2008 support for the Honey Sector in the South West province of Cameroon. workshop programme • Openning Prayer • Introduction of participants • Openning word/presentation of the project • Presentation of the workshop objectives • Dynamics in the honey sector in the South West Province Challenges and constraints • Perspectives of FAO and SNV • Ways forward

Dynamics in the honey sector

In order to better understand the current situation within the honey sector in the Southwest province, participants were led into a group exercise. The Terms of reference for the group exercise were as follows:

• Dynamics (what is the current situation) in the honey sector in the southwest of Cameroon.

*At the provincial level *At the Divisional/other levels Organization -status, mission, number of members etc Planned activities Who is behind the initiative?

The various organizational levels that exist were identified as follows

At Divisional levels: At Sub Divisional level

2 - - - Bayang/Mbo - MemeFako - Lower Mundani - - - - Kupe manenguba

Results of Group work

Manyu Manyu reported as follows: They are so far: • Organized into CIGs (About 40 registered CIGs) Statistics for the other sub-Divisions are not yet known.

Planned Activities • Sensitize the others on the need of uniting into Unions

Who is behind?/partners Current supporters/partners include the following: • FORUDEF • DEP • Rumpi • INADES Formation

Meme bee farmers’ chapters • This chapter is so far made up of registered bee farming groups, mostly CIGs from the entire sub division. • The chapter is covered by SOWEBEFU Mission • Meme chapter to be legalized

Ndian Existing Groups 1. LIPENJA BATANGA 1. This is made up of the Lipenje Bee farming group with 21 members 2. ESOKI Bee farmers Association - 02 members 3. FABE Young Livestock Framers -02 members

Mission 1. To alleviate poverty 2. Supported by DED to cut down on the rate of hunting

Activities 1. Monthly meetings which hold two times in the various groups. 2. Fabe - 10 Hives in the field Esoki -09 hives in the field Lipenje - 09 Hives in the field

Legal Status Legalization process ongoing.

Members Fabe: 14 members

3 Lipenje: 06 members Esoki: 15 members

Fako has a situation of two structures since 2005 There is 1. Fako Bee farms Union, comprised of the following structures: • Bonakanda Integrated Mt Fako • Fose women Bokwango • RWTU Soppo • Wake up small Soppo • Woteke Women CIG • Mary Anne Women Bwassa

Their partners include: • FAFNET • API FLODEV France • PUM Netherlands • Bees Abroad U.K

2. South west Bee farmers Union Branch Fako, made of: • Mary Anne Bee keeping • RWTU • Muyuka Bee farms Association • Befco Muyuka • Yoke Dynam,ic Beefarms • Sypro • Mile 4 • Ombe native park • Bee farmers

Partners INADES Formation, SNV and FAO

3. Malatako CIG INAPA CIG Bokwango Beefarms United Beefarms Bova

Partners -Rumpi as a financial partner -ERUDEF -Juliate Wright U.K, Financially -INADES -MEBEES

Existing Structure - 20 CIGs - Lebialem hunters Beekeeping initiative - Lower Mundani Bee framer Association

Lebialem Current situation - No legal structure exists yet, No board

4 - Organized into a CIG

Mission - Promote bee keeping for poverty alleviation

Planned Activities - Organize bee farmers in the different divisions - Legalize the structure and form a board - Plant trees - Mobilize finances

Kupe Manenguba Manner of organization • Tambe Bee farmers Association (TOBA) • Nguti Bee keeping and Natural Resources management CIG • BMWS bee keeping Association

Toba • They have 60 groups divided into 06 zones • Has been existing since 1998 • Membership is 231

NBENAREMA CIG • Registered in 2000 as CIG • Working with individual farmers in Nguti • BMWS bee farmers Association to check pressure on wild life species

Working in collaboration with MINEPIA/MINAGRI Wes nature Cameroon Bees Abroad, U.K

Presentation of SOWEBEFU (South West Bee Farmers' Union)

At the provincial level, SOWEBEFU, an ongoing initiative to rally all bee farmers was presented as follows: - They have so far carried out sensitization in several areas of the province, notably Fako, Meme, and Lebialem, but have not been able to reach all other areas of the province due to limited means - The structure already has an action plan - The union is however not yet registered Provincial structure of SOWEBEFU Present composition/organization • Comprised of a 09 man Executive comprised of • A President • A vice President • a Secretary • A Financial secretary • Treasurer • A Public Relations Officer

So far, 05 Divisions in the province are represented in the structure.

5 Current partners - INADES Formation - SNV, and FAO

After asking several questions on the structure, all actors in the sector saw with the Suggestion of the SOWEBEFU president, the need to move forward as one body - as a team

Suggested ways forward with SOWEBEFU The participants unanimously suggested following ways forward with their union: • Improve on the present Union • Integrate the other existing structures into the present union • Restructure the three existing Divisional structure • Create more chapters in due time

At provincial level as well once existed SOWEBEKA (South west Beekeepers’ Association) - It was however unable to unite bee farmers in the province - It had some support from INADES Formation which helped them to reinforce and come under the umbrella of a new structure

General Conclusion: The forming of a common viable base for the revitalisation of the national federation of bee farmers of Cameroon was attained, freely and unanimously. SOWEBEFU had to be strengthened from where it actually is, to where the members would want it be. This can only come about through the joint efforts of all actors in the sector rallying their forces behind SOWEBEFU. In the words of the current President at the close of the workshop, he and his team are only servants, and the structure shall be able to achieve its vision through joint efforts and support of the others.

Role of the various chapters It was also agreed that the role of the Chapters should be: • Production, and marketing

South West Bee Farmers' Union Action Plan for 2008 After presenting SOWEBEFU, its 2008 Action plan was equally presented. The other members coming on board found the ideas in eh plan reflecting their current needs. However, as an operational plan, it will still be open for the members to make suggestions and adjustments wherever needed. The main activities in the plan were presented as follows:

• Training needs identification in the various chapters. • Bee keeping training • Sensitization • Fundraising • Planting of bee loving trees. • Organizational Development support.

Mobilization at the levels of the other Divisions began with volunteers as focal points and plans for meetings in meetings in the near future. Planned meetinmgs included

6 Meme Meeting Date: June 3. 2008 Venue: MINEPIA office at 10.00am

Fako Meeting Date: June 4.2008 Venue: MINEPIA OFFICE at 9.00am

Action Plan of INADES Formation As a support structure in the domain, INANDES Formation came up with its proposed action plan for the near future. The plan consisted of the following: • Elaborate action plans for the various existing chapters (First week of June) • Identify focal points /persons who should organize the chapter and give feedback to the support organization. The following were identified on the occasion: Ndian : Dr. Nkwatoh. Phone: 7787-5975, CODEV Services Kupe Manenguba : Ngwese Dominic, Phone; 7762-9568 Manyu : Tabe moses Phone: 7771-8913, FORUDEF Lebialem: Amingu David. Phone: 7776-9848 MEBEECIG, and Ndi Nkem Mondouh Thomas. Phone: 7514-6078, KEMKEM

Perspectives of FAO and SNV The planned activities of SNV and FAO in the honey sector for 2007-2008 were presented as follows • Organization of bee keepers (at both provincial and national levels) • Trainings in improved bee keeping techniques • Business skills training. • Develop export markets • Develop national markets. • Participative development of honey standards for Cameroon.

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Some basic information on some of the key actors in the honey sector in the South west province of Cameroon Organization Number of bee Total number of Annual Honey farmers in the Hives owned production structure /placed and other by- products BEFCO 13 90 900 Liters/ Wax

Penda Mboko , Mungo, Muyuka 15 15 49 Liters Yoke Dynamic Bee Farmers 9 5 ...... MOLATAKO LIKOKO 11 5 200+ MBENAREMACIG Nguti 10 35 70/ wax Ameh Bee Farmers CIG 15 105 2800 liters ANABEECIG CIG Mendia Alou 06 05 36 liters Fako Chapter, WEBFU 103 97 320 Liters/wax & others Lipenja I Bee Farmers 6 Not yet Harvesting ------Meme Chapter, 09 CIG 80 150 700/wax TOBA 785 785 300 liters FABE Livestock 14 10 ----- Minka/Letsetaw AGro Dev't 10 15 80 Liters Ndi Nkem Mondouh Thomas 20 25 60 Kemkem CIG Fosimondi 11 5 30

8 List of Participants

Workshop for the Re-organization of Beekeepers in the South West Province

No Name Organisation Contact Tel/E-mail 1 Joseph L. Mulema WCS/TMLP 96284325 [email protected] 2 Kemia Elizabeth WCS/TMLP 77252518 [email protected] 3 Amingu David Mebcc. CIG 77252518 4 Njiuwung Pius Atem Lebialem Hunters Beefarmers 77033606 5 Okumbo James Assam Food for Rural Developme Ameh 77769848 Bee Farmers CIG [email protected] 6 Ndi Nkemondouh Thomas ERUDEF 75146078 7 Nkeangnyi Thomas A.S.H. CIG Fosimondi 77295626 8 Mongombe Simon Mary Ann CIG Bwassa 96276402 9 Linonge Julius SOWEBEFU 79966683 10 Elinge Stephen United Bee Farmers Bova 75451421 11 Nkome Peter TOBA 74885941 12 Christina N. Mosuk Mary Ann CIG PCC Likombe 13 John Njie Mwambo Bokwaongo Bee Farmers 75816091 14 Fomenjoh Philip Awung Bee Farmers Club Owe 77714380 15 Lawson A. Etume Bee Farmers Club Owe 77530139 16 Wathang Moses Bee Farmers Club Owe 77564793 17 Oscar Morie Owe 18 Nelelo George Fabe Ndian division 19 Isaac Ngale Bokwaongo 77827967 20 Oben Ayuk Mbuagbo FORUDEF 74879598 21 Collins Mbiatem Dicese of Buea 75803547 22 Lyonga Willian FAAFNET 77649438 23 Awudu Ngute MINEPIA 96490290 24 Matute Mosima Peter LIGWEH CIG 79731090 24 Atembe-afac Mmockombi Cane Rats, Bee and 77684547

9 Mushroom Farmers CIG 25 Etah Beteck Tom Nature Cameroon 79709419 26 Mbe Nkemleke Ernest Prunus Africana CIG Lebialem 77246036 27 Ndi Nkemagendia Paul Prunus Africana CIG Lebialem 74813830 28 Nkenganyi Sebastien Ndemafuah Group Lewoh 94353247 29 Osake Lawrence Lewoh 30 Ambeno Julius Young Livestock CIG 31 Enotarh Williams SOWEBEFU 74082993 32 Dorothy Ebako Meme Rural Women 77231215 Cooperative 33 Atud Thomas Atud Unity Young Farmers CIG 77336455 34 Mbah John Njeck Kwa Kwa Aspiring CIG 74080398 35 Keju Manfred Nso Penda Mboko 74047412 36 Nkwatoh Athanasius Fuashi UB/CODEV 77875975 37 Sophie Fende Molatako 96062072 38 Tabe Susan SOWEBEFU/ FAO Facilitator 77727545 39 Eyeni Eyeni Davran Nbenarema CIG Nguti 94082598 40 Sainge Nsanyi Moses Korup Forest Dynamics 77513599 [email protected] 41 Rev. Pastor Munongo Hiene YDBF Yoke Muyuka 77568523 42 Anangatia Thomas ANABEC CIG 77358190 43 Che Scholastica Nchang MinFoF/SW 33322577 44 Botame Augustine Mboh Rural Dev Centre 77953586 45 Gabriel Akama Meme Bee Farmers 74230892 46 Ekuka Simon Lipenja Bee Farmers 47 Ndoh Cornelius Lipenja Bee Farmers 48 Etengeneng Thaddeus MINEPIA, Buea 77776174 49 Etah Collins Ayuk MINEPIA, Buea 79907318 50 Lenshie Peter Lapko TIBEEFAG 77681525 51 Ndangoh Thomas Hand to Hand CIG Ekombe 79722092 52 Ajabjo Stella ERUDEF [email protected] 53 Ikome Peter FAO Facilitator 77599231 54 Manyi Ako, Irine FAO Technical Assistant 77189166 55 Niba Fon, Julius SNV Highlands 96630615 56 Chiatoh Collins JM Consult 77408877

10 57 Sama Khan INADES Formation 77500865 58 Chinfon Samuel Kofon Ekona Bee Farmers Group 59 Nkeng Fotabong Paul Lewoh 79709419

60 Tabe Tabe Felix Nbenarema CIG Nguti 94082598

61 Bakia Besong SNV Highlands 99415576

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