Wonder Makaya (36), is a smallholder farmer from Chimanimani district. Wonder is using the Internet to gain in-depth knowledge and understanding of farming as a business. This is helping him to earn more income from his beekeeping project.
It all started in October 2019 when Wonder met with TSURO Trust Programme Facilitator, Charles Makanhenhi (54). Charles and Wonder talked about beekeeping as an income generating project. The discussion resonated with Wonder who had been exploring ways to earn extra income.
Wonder began to search for more knowledge using the Internet. He gained vast knowledge on beekeeping and bee products. Wonder says he was convinced that he could successfully run a beekeeping project.
“The issue of using the Internet was my own idea of getting deeper understanding on bee project related products,” says Wonder.
Armed with knowledge and a deep conviction that he would succeed, Wonder approached TSURO Trust for training in beekeeping. TSURO Trust is a PELUM member organisation working in Chimanimani district, eastern Zimbabwe. Its mission been to empower the communities of Chimanimani and neighbouring districts to improve their livelihoods and relationships through programmes in the areas of sustainable agriculture, natural resource management, and community health, agro-processing and marketing.
Chiedza Simango (27), the Knowledge Management Officer at TSURO Trust says her organisation has been training farmers on beekeeping since 2018. “We provided trainings to 170 beekeepers on running beekeeping as a business,” says Chiedza. Chiedza says TSURO Trust continues to provide training to farmers so that they treat beekeeping as a business. This training covers topics on financial literacy, grading, packaging and marketing.
After the training, Wonder started his beekeeping project in October 2019 with 20 hives including the two hives he received from Tsuro and he started to harvest in December 2019. He said that bee keeping is not easy it requires one to be patient especially in his region where flowers are seasonal. Up to date he has earned an approximation of USD 2 000.
“I thought starting beekeeping is very easy no capital needed to start the project except purchasing of traditional hives but it needs patience and perseverance. I started the project in October 2019 and by December 2019 when l harvested only two out of the twenty hives were colonised. I managed to harvest 14 kg and sold them at USD20 and the total amount I have earned so far is approximately USD 2000,” says Wonder.
Wonder sells honey, floor and furniture polish in his community and in Mutare, a nearby city located 150.3 km from Chimanimani.
Chiedza says TSURO Trust provides a market for farmers. The organisation buys raw or processed honey and sells it to local markets through Chimani Delights, TSURO Trust’s profit-making wing.
For farmers like Wonder, integrating knowledge gained using ICT and community-based trainings has helped them to boost their projects.
“I am now able to buy daily basic needs for my family and pay fees for my elder brother’s daughter,” says Wonder.
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