Zimbabwe Newsletter © FAO © FAO © FAO Issue 04 | 2nd Trimester 2015 | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations | Zimbabwe INSIDE Social Protection • Conversation with a successful beekeeper: Cephas Mlala and Agriculture • EU livestock project manager n 16 October 2015, Zimbabwe value in the first year, with this contribution speaks joined the rest of the world in increasing to 50 percent in the second year. commemorating World Food Day. Farmers from 24 districts in the • Harare Agriculture show O highlights This year’s theme – Social Protection and country, received crop and livestock Agriculture, Breaking the Cycle of Rural vouchers, redeemable at selected agro- Poverty – brings attention to the role that dealers or livestock fairs. Crop vouchers • Podcasting: Enabling digital agriculture plays in terms of food security, were used to acquire agricultural extension technology eradicating hunger and poverty, improving inputs and pesticides, while livestock livelihoods, income generation and creating vouchers were used to purchase small • The space: Youth and opportunities for people in rural areas. livestock such as poultry, sheep, goats, agriculture in Zimbabwe Despite major strides, food insecurity stock feed and veterinary supplies. and poverty challenges continue to stalk Paper vouchers were used in areas where • Essay competition: Making a us. In the recent past, Zimbabwe has network coverage was low, while electronic living from livestock experienced recurrent and frequent voucher system was the preferred choice droughts, seasonal floods, plant pests where mobile connectivity was available. • Coordination in agriculture and disease (e.g. fruit fly, army worm and The programme also piloted the use of quelea birds), animal diseases (e.g. Foot vouchers through a mobile cash transfer • UK aid takes farmers to and Mouth Diseases, anthrax, tick-borne platform “ECO CASH”, with great success. “school without walls” diseases and Newcastle disease), wild The vouchers increased the purchasing fires, human wildlife conflicts and major power of the farmers, who procured local • Strenthening Comesa and FAO human diseases and economic policies with goods. This demand helped resuscitate collaboration negative impacts on food and nutrition agro dealer networks, ensuring a reliable access, availability and utilization. supply of quality inputs across the country. • World Food Day 2015 Social protection measures are needed The programme was funded by the Highlights to urgently address these challenges. European Union, the United Kingdom’s Studies show that in 2013 alone, such Depart ment for International Development • Pest threatens livelihoods measures lifted around 150 million and the Australian Government’s people out of extreme poverty globally. Agency for International Development. World Food Day is observed annually on FAO in Zimbabwe recently successfully 16 October, the anniversary of the founding implemented one such innovative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of programme through the use of a voucher the United Nations. This year it is particularly system. In this programme, farmers important as the organization has turned were in the driver’s seat, giving them the 70. The main objective of the day is to freedom to buy the inputs they needed heighten public awareness on the nature most, rather than providing them with and dimensions of the long-term world food fixed starter packs of inputs they may not challenges, and to develop further national require. Participants contributed between and international solidarity in the struggle 20 and 40 percent to the total voucher © FAO against hunger, malnutrition and poverty. Conversation with a successful beekeeper © FAO Left Cephas Mlala and wife in the background showing basic honey processing equipment. Above is honey, honey combs, beeswax and propolis, some of the products of Mlala’s bee-keeping venture death I pose a question? “A lot of people ask me why I am not afraid of being stung by bees in my apiary and I tell them fear is a result of little knowledge. Once you know the rules of engagement when it © FAO comes to bee keeping, anyone can keep bees, its safe; death by bee stinging is unacceptable. Don’t make the mistake of equating bees ver 500km from Harare, deep in the woodlands of semi- to enemies that you go to battle with. You can be attacked by bees arid rural Lupane District in Zimbabwe; is Menyezwa village; to death while you are armed with your loaded gun” he cautions. Ohome to bee keeper, livestock and crop farmer Cephas Mlala. As we negotiate our way through the forest on a winding Turning hobby into business gravel road leading to Mlala’s homestead; he tells me he spent several years in the bush fighting the liberation war that brought Mlala started beekeeping as a hobby, armed with only traditional independence to present day Zimbabwe. His narrative is centred knowledge, and two hives in early 2004. “Bee keeping has very on how he survived in thick forests which provided him not only little start-up requirements; you only need a beehive, water, bee battle cover but medicine and food. Showing that he’s more than forage and minimal labour. I trained my wife and kids on how to comfortable with the forest. manage the apiary and they help me” he explains as we tour his Mlala left home in the sixties and only returned at apiary few meters away from the houses. The only accident he independence in 1980. As we arrive, I notice a beautifully built recalls was when inquisitive young boys from the neighbourhood homestead integrated with plenty of trees and plants which could tried to help themselves with honey from his hives without his easily be mistaken for a mini botanical garden. Mlala is married with consent. Fortunately they survived. I hope I will not be stung by three children who all stay at this homestead. Fifteen of the family bees Mr. Mlala I remarked. “As long as you do not make noise or cattle and 12 goats he tells me have been let out in search of grazing smell of perfume you are safe in the apiary” he advised. For three and water, while over twenty indigenous chickens are roaming consecutive years Mlala said the proceeds from honey helped the freely all over the yard. family a lot and he even reinvested into more beehives. Just like most farmers in Lupane District, Mlala ventured By 2007 Mlala had five hives. However this was the same into livestock and crop production for food and income security. time the country experienced economic hardships; hence dubious Agriculture is the major economic activity for people in this traders started flooding the market with poor quality honey area. Crop farming is largely unsuccessful in this region which is (boiled and/or laced with sugar). This affected market confidence characterised by poor rainfall and prone to recurrent droughts. To in honey produced in most rural areas, and things started falling diversify household sources of food and income as well as increasing apart for Mlala. He experienced more problems that included resilience to shocks Mlala started supplementing livestock and crop bees absconding the hives, others dying from poisoning through farming with bee keeping. pesticides applied to agricultural crops and severe frost during the Could it be your bush experience carrying the guns and fighting 2011, 2012 and 2013 winters. These factors also adversely affected for survival in the forests that explain why you keep dangerous most bee forage in low lying areas of the country. insects that can possibly sting you or members of your family to 2 Project opens window national exhibitions. Travelling helps me FAO Forest Forces project of opportunity to network, market my products and also to learn new innovative ideas of honey FUNDING: In 2014, Mlala’s life took a new turn processing and its by-products” he said. The European Union (EU) and FAO when he was selected to benefit from the “I also produce flavoured honey, European Union and FAO funded ‘Forest lotions, soaps, floor and shoe polish and WORKING FOR: Forces’ project, being implemented by FAO candles from beeswax. The advantage of Zimbabwe’s smallholder farmers in partnership with Environment Africa. The beeswax candles is that they burn cleanly, project seeks to improve food security and have a long light life span, quality of light WORKING TO: Improve food income of vulnerable rural communities is high and are environmentally friendly security and income of vulnerable through participatory sustainable forest in comparison to other candles. Honey rural communities through management and value addition to forest is also in demand for health and beauty participatory sustainable forest products and diversification of livelihood products. management and value addition to strategies. “Proceeds from my apiary assure me of forest products, diversification of Through the project Mlala received income to cover my basic needs improving basic bee-keeping and advanced bee- my family’s nutrition significantly. I am now livelihood strategies. keeping training organised by Environment looking at ways in which I can increase TOTAL INVESTMENT: Africa. “I learnt how to store, purify and honey production and expand my market.” USD 5 million). produce honey; as well as some marketing How does Mlala see the prospects of techniques. This was my awakening honey in this country? “The honey that we PROJECT DURATION: moment” said Mlala. After training; produce is pure and free of pollutants; it is 2013 - 2017 Environment Africa gave a complete bee- the most sought after. As a nation currently keeping kit plus two hives to each of facing a number of economic challenges I the farmers in participating wards. “This urge people to supplement other income “In areas prone to recurrent training motivated me to turn this hobby generating activities with honey production, into a serious business. its easy and the prospects are very good.” drought, natural resources should From humble beginnings Mlala now Mlala said.