World Connect

Kayesera Natural Honey

Year: 2023

Country: Malawi

Project Status: Funded

Impact Sector: Economic Opportunity

Project Investment: $4,604.61

Project Launch: 11-9-23

Kayesera Cooperative seeks a $4,604.61 grant from World Connect to boost their beekeeping business by adding value to their honey through increased production, improved packaging and attractive branding. To achieve this, the cooperative will procure and hang 13 more beehives, purchase protective gears, bee harvesting materials and conduct honey production training to its 20 cooperative women members. Success of this project will increase income generation to 20 cooperative members, create employment opportunities for other community members , diversification of economic activities in the community, environment conservation and significantly increase crop yields through improved pollination.

Project Update: 1-31-24

Within just one month of project launch, Kayesera Cooperative has expanded its membership to 30 from 20, purchased beekeeping equipment, such as honey pressing machine, 200kg honey tank, 6 bee suits, 2 bee smokers, honey double sieve, 2 bee brushes, 2 hive tools, gumboots,buckets, and 2000 packaging bottles (500ml). With the remaining grant, the group will purchase 3,000 tree seedlings,13 more bee hives, 2 additional honey tanks, and conduct comprehensive training on value addition and business management. The direct beneficiaries of this initiative will be the 30 group members and their households projected to around 250 once the project is completed.

Final Report: 10-31-24

The Kayesera Beekeeping Cooperative in Dowa has made significant strides with the $4,604.61 investment from Mudzi Connect.. Within six months, the project generated $466.54) in honey sales, a notable increase compared to the annual sales of $553 recorded before the initiative. Encouraged by this success, members are already leveraging their earnings to purchase agricultural tools and inputs, pay school fees, and improve food security for their families. To ensure environmental conservation, the group has planted 5,000 trees with the hope they will support future honey production.