Beekeeping Extension Society (BES)

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The Beekeeping Extension Society (BES), founded in 2000, is a non-governmental organisation based in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. The primary objective of BES is extending beekeeping technology to local beekeepers in order to stop the destruction of forest trees, killing of bees and other smaller animals as a result of beekeeping. BES also aims to improve the income of the local beekeepers.

The Beekeeping Extension Society (BES) is a social enterprise that was originally setup as a non-profit organization focused on helping rural beekeepers increase their honey yields through training and provision of modern beekeeping technology.
In order to achieve its objectives BES has leveraged on the support of various international donor organisations that have provided both funds and technical expertise in the past. Facility support focuses on developing a sustainable business model for the Beekeeping Extension Society (BES).
The organisation intends to establish a centralised collection, processing, packaging and marketing centre for the production and distribution of affordable 20ml sachet honey.
In Nigeria beekeepers are poor peasant farmers often with little or no education. About 85% of beekeepers still adopt traditional practices which contaminate the quality of the honey and provide low yield.
This project has the potential to initially impact over 2000 beekeepers operating in the northern part of Nigeria by providing them access to market and capacity building.

Objectives
The primary objective of the society is beekeeping extension. Specific objectives are:
• To improve on the income level of the rural farmers (including Women) through Beekeeping.
• To establish farmers extension groups as sustainable approch.
• To identify and liaise with National and International Organisations (including individual women or women groups) involved with or related to beekeeping developments.
• To seek Assistance (Grants/Funds) for beekeeping development projects.

Our work:
We supply local beekeepers with modern beekeeping equipment and capacity-building programmes were conducted on how to use the equipment and bee management practices.
As a result:
• Local beekeepers average honey yields are now between 15-20 liters as against 2-4 liters per farmer per season;
• About 10,000 local beekeepers are now participating in the programme throughout sixteen states in Nigeria;
• Farmers have formed cooperatives;
• Beeswax, which used to be thrown away, is now used for soap, cream and candle making mostly by women in participating communities.

Idris Muhammad Barau is the Founder and Project Director of the Beekeeping Extension Society (BES).

For other net participants we can offer an expert guidance through trained staff, give an expert opinion, procure expert information and establish new contacts in the field of our work.