Restore Local

National Beekeepers Association

Restore Local

Promoting tree planting, pollinator conservation, and leveraging technology

Nkoranza South, Ghana

GHA

Hybrid of for-profit and nonprofit

The National Beekeepers Association tackles declining pollinator populations, focusing on bees that are essential for food production and biodiversity. Challenges include habitat loss, pesticide use, climate change, and lack of awareness. In Ghana, declining bee populations impact rural farming communities, reducing crop yields, particularly for cashew farming, where beekeeping integration can boost yields by up to 200%. Globally, one-third of food depends on bee pollination, yet 30% of bee species face extinction, threatening food security and biodiversity. Over 3 million smallholder farmers in Ghana and millions more in neighboring regions face reduced productivity. Globally, billions relying on pollinator-dependent crops are affected. Key factors include urbanization, harmful pesticides like neonicotinoids, and climate change. promotes sustainable beekeeping, agriculture, and integration with farming to enhance pollination and yields. Awareness campaigns also emphasize pollinator conservation efforts to support communities while addressing global biodiversity and food security challenges.

The National Beekeepers Association's solution focuses on supporting smallholder farmers to plant tree crops like cashews and citrus and integrating beekeeping into tree crops and vegetable farming to boost crop yields and support biodiversity. Here's how it works: • What It Is: A program that trains farmers to combine beekeeping with crop farming, particularly for pollinator-dependent crops like cashews. • What It Does: It increases crop yields through better pollination, provides farmers with additional income from honey and beeswax, and promotes sustainable farming practices. • How It Works: Farmers are trained to set up and manage beehives on their farms. Bees pollinate crops, improving their quality and quantity. Farmers also harvest honey and other hive products, which can be sold for extra income. • Technology Used: The program uses simple, accessible tools like beekeeping equipment and training manuals. It also incorporates modern techniques for hive management and honey production. Employment of digital tools on mobile phones to predict the weather and identify pests and diseases and desirable solutions. Use of solar honey and beeswax processing equipment. For a quick overview, you may visit our website: https://www.natbawynbgcodec.com

The National Beekeepers Association primarily serves smallholder farmers in rural communities, particularly in Ghana and neighboring regions. These farmers often rely on agriculture for their livelihoods but face challenges such as low crop yields, limited access to sustainable farming practices, and economic instability. Many are underserved due to a lack of education on pollinator conservation and sustainable farming techniques, as well as insufficient resources to improve productivity. The association addresses these needs by: • Training Farmers: Educating them on sustainable agriculture, tree planting, and integrating beekeeping with crop farming to enhance pollination and increase yields. • Providing Resources: Supplying beekeeping equipment and guidance to establish apiaries. • Economic Empowerment: Enabling farmers to earn additional income from honey and other hive products. • Promoting Sustainability: Encouraging practices that support biodiversity, tree planting and pollinator conservation, and environmental stewardship. This solution not only boosts agricultural productivity but also improves the economic well-being of farmers, creating a ripple effect of positive change in their communities and environmental conservation.