Oyam, Uganda | Bee farmers across Oyam District have come together to form a cooperative aimed at strengthening beekeeping as a business and increasing productivity.
In a meeting with the District Entomology Officer and the Financial Officer, representatives from all subcounties resolved to establish the Oyam District Bee Keeper Cooperative. The initiative will enable farmers to benefit from climate-smart agriculture projects designed to raise Uganda’s overall farming output.
George Opio, the District Entomology Officer, urged farmers to invest more in beekeeping, noting that the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF) has identified it as a highly productive practice. “Beekeeping requires little land and less labor compared to other farming activities, yet it yields significant returns,” he emphasized.
Opio revealed that Oyam District currently has over 10,000 bee farmers producing approximately 400 tonnes of honey annually, which is sold in both local and national markets despite ongoing challenges.
Alex Enon, the District Financial Officer, encouraged the farmers to formalize their cooperative to access government support under climate-smart agriculture programs. He pledged full backing for the registration process, promising completion within one month if requirements are met.
The meeting concluded with the election of an interim nine-member committee, led by Odyek Jona from Loro Subcounty as chairperson. Jona promised to ensure the cooperative is registered and operational, with the goal of boosting honey production across the district.
Farmer Ejedio Apedo described beekeeping as “a lucrative venture” and urged colleagues to focus on quality management to produce honey that meets market standards.