By Glory Seruhere
INTRODUCTION
Beekeeping is a low-input activity that can be carried out by all members of the family, especially beekeeping with stingless bees. This activity is a source of income but also honey and other beehive products are a source of food rich in vitamins, carbohydrates and other essential nutrients.

The honey and other beehive products like pollen and propolis from stingless bees are known to have more medicinal properties than that from stinging bees; and, they are known to be efficient in the treatment of many HIV/AIDS related opportunistic infections and diseases such as tuberculosis, nausea, diarrhea as well as in stimulating the immune system of the HIV/AIDS patient.

This is a pilot project that is being carried out in the Kilimanjaro region in Siha district but more specifically the beneficiary communities were Mae, Kishisha and Kengia. These three communities were chosen on the basis of difficulty in reaching medical care centers due to lack of transport facilities, distance between medical care center and the village/community and the cost of medication in the village. They were also chosen because of their proximity to forests and melliferous plants which form the basis for beekeeping.

The target groups of this project are resource poor young parents who are ill and are at an early stage of HIV/AIDS with their livelihood typically depending on agriculture. The aim of this project is such that these beneficiaries will readily have high nutrient food, natural medicines and an income generating activity so as to improve their means of livelihood as well as ensure the prevention of orphans falling into poverty and food insecurity. In total there are 24 beneficiaries, of which 14 are women and 10 are men.

In order to ascertain whether the intended results of the project were being achieved part of the ENVIROCARE team, that is; the Executive director – Mrs. Loyce Lema, Mr. Fred Silayo and Ms Glory Seruhere travelled to Moshi to take a look at the ongoing activities; while there we linked up with Mr. Michael Mushi who is the ongoing project coordinator.

VISIT TO KIBONG’OTO HOSPITALUpon arrival in Moshi, the team went to Kibong’oto hospital which is found in Siha District where we were scheduled to meet with Dr. Shuma who is the one dealing with the beneficiaries providing them with among others; testing, counseling and advisory services as well as with the beneficiaries of the project.

While there we got to meet some of the beneficiaries and we had a lengthy discussion with them to find out how they were progressing, we found out that all of them had been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and were all receiving their treatment and attending their clinical visits from here. 16 of the 24 beneficiaries were present at the hospital that day.

While some beneficiaries could not make it that day for their scheduled clinic visit, those that were present were very appreciative of the project saying that they had gained a lot by taking on the stingless bee keeping project both health wise and financially. For instance many of them testified that they no longer faced problems of coughing and also that their CD4 counts had increased significantly, also many said that they could now comfortably provide for their families including paying fees for their children.

They did however propose that booster projects such as chicken and goat rearing be added to what they already have. This was taken into consideration, although after consultation with the project coordinator it was  realized that with proper planning and saving of funds the beneficiaries could become self reliant and purchase these animals on their own.

Dr. Shuma confirmed the general improvement in the health statuses of the patients by saying that all of them had had their CD4 count significantly increase as well as increase in body weight as well as decreased occurrences of opportunistic infections such as severe cough, stomach pains, nausea and vomiting among others since starting to take stingless bee honey and other bee products like pollen. He later on showed us how an individual was tested for HIV/AIDS and explained how the results were determined.

VISIT TO BENEFICIARIES HOMES
This took place on days two and three. We visited 4 beneficiaries namely Juliet Munuo, Edward Melkzedeck, Aisha Mohamed and Joachim Mushi in order to have hands on experience with them to see how they have benefited from stingless bee keeping. With the help of Mr. Japhet Mmari who was training the beneficiaries as well as Mr. Michael Mushi.

At the home visits the beneficiaries were able to explain as well as show what they had been taught in the training sessions. For instance they not only explained how to harvest honey and when it is done, but they went ahead to harvest honey in our presence, they could also explain the different components of a bee hive and their uses. Expert explanations obtained were needed from Mr. Japhet Mmari.

We noticed that beehives were kept in the houses or just outside in nearby makeshift houses that are constructed right next to the main house, when we asked why this was so we were told that first of all it is because the bees are stingless and also the elimination of a distance to take in order to harvest the honey is helpful to the people in the household, but above all it is to prevent against thieves from stealing honey or even the bee hive as a whole.

HARVESTING PROCESS
All the beneficiaries demonstrated similar if not the same skills in harvesting honey. They needed help putting down the beehives as they weigh a considerable amount. However, once the hives were settled down, they could do almost everything else on their own.

Once the hive has been removed from where it rests it is put on the ground on a clean surface or banana leaves, or sometimes a large polythene bag is placed on the ground, thereafter the hive is put down. The beehive is split open with an axe or a panga and then put at an elevation for easy draining of honey.

Within the hive are honey pouches, pollen, propolis, the “bee-house”. The pollen is initially collected from various flowers and plants in the forest; we were told that stingless bees visit a wider variety of plants than stinging bees hence being able to collect from plants with medicinal properties. When the pollen is brought back into the hive it is put into pouches, and with time this is what eventually is turned into honey with help of certain bee produced enzymes that are used to gradually change the pollen into honey.

Pollen on its own is rich in protein and carbohydrates and is thus a good source of energy for the beneficiaries; they did say that when they started taking pollen – about a teaspoonful a day it had a tremendous effect on increasing their energy levels as well as improving appetite. They however had not yet started using propolis for its medicinal properties.

The honey pouches are pierced with a clean sharp instrument like a knife or a fork and since the hive is at angle it is easily collected into a clean article like a bucket or saucepan. It is first sieved before it is packaged for sale.

After harvesting the honey, the hive is put back together and resealed with cow dung if the gum holding the two parts of the hive together is not enough. The dung id not intrusive to the hive in anyway, plus it prevents moisture from entering the hive as it holds the hive together until the bees can produce enough glue of their own to hold it together.

CHALLENGES The beneficiaries said that in general they faced relatively few challenges which include the long distance to the hospital from their homes, thieves who try to steal honey and at times the hives themselves.

SUCCESSES On the other hand their greatest success has been the readily available market for their excess honey – they use between a liter and two for home consumption and sell the extra between 7000 Tsh and 10,000Tsh per liter.

The beneficiaries also stated that from the money they earn they are now able to provide for their families better than before, for instance they can now afford to buy basic necessities like clothes, food, as well as pay for the education of their children much more easily since they have an extra source of income. In addition since beekeeping is minimal work, and harvesting honey happens every so often then they can devote most of their time to other activities especially farming which is their primary commercial as well as subsistence activity. The other success is the general improvement in their health and well being as a result of regularly using honey and pollen.

RECOMMENDATIONS In conclusion, it is recommended that the beneficiaries collectively sell their honey as a unit rather than as individuals as this will help with quality control but also will ensure guaranteed earnings as opposed to if they have to individually sell their honey.