Buzzing with excitement about building beehives

16 October 2017

A group of 14 leading businesswomen from the UK food industry is returning to Tanzania to see if they can beat their 2015 record of building 90 beehives in three days to support female farmers living in the remote Nou Forest.

Make a donation to support the Big Beehive Build here, donations from UK residents will be doubled by the UK government.

The group, which is led by Sainsbury's Director of Brand, Judith Batchelar, is flying out on Monday 16 October to take part in the Big Beehive Build for Farm Africa.

After arriving at Kilimanjaro airport, the group will travel south for several hours to reach the small village of Bermi in the Babati District of the Manyara Region. Their mission is to work alongside local beekeepers to construct 120 Langsroth beehives in just three days (Wednesday 18 – Friday 20 October), as well as raise £80,000 for Farm Africa. That’s 30 more hives than the group built in three days on their first visit to Tanzania two years ago.

The hives will be used by women from the local Bermi beekeeping group to build sustainable honey farming businesses that give them a steady income as well as an incentive to protect the forest by planting fruit trees to attract more bees.

The 300 sq km Nou Forest where they live, which is noted for its biodiversity of plant, animal and insect life, has suffered severe deforestation in recent years.

Harvesting honey brings local women a new and valuable source of income, which enables them to pay for food, medicines and school fees for their children.

Farm Africa Head of Fundraising Jenni Bright commented:

“Tanzania loses around 370,000 hectares of forest a year – that’s 1,000 football fields every day. By helping local communities make money from forest-friendly businesses like honey production, Farm Africa not only helps local communities escape poverty, we help protect the forests for generations to come.”

Arni Oddur Thordarsson, CEO of Marel, the Queen Bee sponsors of the challenge added:

“Marel is delighted to be able to take part and support the Beehive Build project in Tanzania, that has the aim of building up future businesses to support locals to produce food in safe and sustainable way. Sustainable food production is a key factor in supporting the future generations of the earth and Marel is proud to support initiatives that have the sustainable development of the food industry as their end goal. The project fits well toward Marel´s vision to transform the way food is processed.”  

Judith Batchelar commented:

“Monday 16 October is World Food Day, so it’s a fitting day for us, as representatives of the British food industry, to travel to Tanzania to support the development of sustainable food businesses in one of the world’s poorest countries. I’m especially pleased that we’re helping local women thrive in business. 120 beehives in three days? No problem, I can taste the sweet taste of success already!”

Kirstie Jamieson, Marketing Director at Valeo Foods UK, commented:

“We are delighted to be partnering with Farm Africa on the Big Beehive Build.  This initiative provides a natural fit with the Rowse brand, building on our continued investment and commitment to make a difference to people’s lives through bee farming.  The Big Beehive Build is a project that will have a lasting impact for the community of Bermi.”

Joyce Lali, 45, from Erri village in Manyara, who is one of the women who set up a honey production business after receiving beehives that were built by the challenge group in 2015, said:

“I would like to thank the Big Beehive Build group for coming to Erri and giving us the beehives. It is something that has given real value to our lives. I send special appreciation for making us women seen. Before, we were invisible in the community. You have helped us increase the value of females in the community. Before, we were oppressed by men and we didn’t earn any of our own money. Now, I earn my own money and I can buy the things I need myself.”

Regina Alfred, 45, from Bermi village, who will receive some of the beehives the challenge group build this year, added:

“I didn’t use to have much capability to help my children but I have tried my best to help them get somewhere in life. The money from this year’s honey harvest will pay for my daughter to go to school. I have nothing more to say to the Big Beehive Build team than to say a big thank you.”

Between 14 October 2017 and 14 January 2018 donations in support of the Big Beehive Build will go to Farm Africa’s Growing Futures appeal that will help young farmers living in western Kenya develop sustainable horticulture businesses. Gifts from individuals based in the UK will be doubled by the Government through UK Aid Match, meaning gifts will go twice as far.

The Big Beehive Build is one of the events organised this year as part of the Food For Good campaign, which unites the global food and hospitality industry behind Farm Africa’s vision of a prosperous rural Africa.

Sponsor the Big Beehive Build team on their JustGiving page.