BURKINA FASO

Honey and bees

As they gradually die in Europe, victims of agriculture intensification and rampant urbanization, bees find in Africa a new refuge, a new Eldorado. Essential allies of farmers and the environment, and therefore the fight against hunger and poverty, these pollinators are the subject of many initiatives. Solutions are born to protect them; the African apicultural sector is booming.

In Burkina Faso, small honey producers mutualize their actions, defend eco-responsible practices while boosting the local economy. For more than 15 years, Désiré Yameogo has traveled the country to preach the good word, and thanks to the support of partners like the German foundation, The Stern Stewart Institute, has managed to train more than 3800 beekeepers (most of them are women) who now produce annually more than 200 tons of honey sold on the local market. Thanks to this extra income families are able to send their children to school.

The next challenge for him and his NGO Wend Puiré is to ensure the right level of revenue for his small African producers, by helping them to put the right price on their honey production. By setting up the first Apidology Center in Africa, l’Apilab, with a certification recognized by Europe, it will be possible to ensure and guarantee the traceability of honeys produced (level of quality, identification of "rare honeys", like Mango or Baobab honey) and be able to sell it Europe.

With the support of Laafi, a French NGO, he is also developing connected bee hives to optimize the harvest and the logistics all over the country.

Reportage done with Flore Olive in 2019 on assignment for Paris Match.

» bouton