Insect pollination alongside cashew farming is critical for the achievement of profitable yields, especially the introduction of honeybees into cashew orchards as another means of alternate diversification income generation opportunities, for smallholder’s farmers, especially during this COVID-19 when main agriculture has dwindled. It is for this reason Cooperazione Internationale (COOPI) with support from the European Union (EU) has empowered Bee and Cashew farmers on basic techniques of beekeeping management and cashew orchards, in parts of the Northern Region, in the Country.
COOPI together with the Ministry of Agriculture, district offices engaged training of trainers for selected extension officers in the ministry as well as cashew farmers from PROACT project target districts, of Port Loko, Kambia, Bombali and Koinadugu.
The aim of the knowledge based training was to enhance farmer’s knowledge and basic skills on beekeeping management and honey harvesting, an art which requires special skills in order to prevent fatalities, during harvest. Extension officers and farmers in beekeeping and cashew farming one year on, now have the capacity in the process and have also passed knowledge to others, not fortunate to benefit from such skills and knowledge, at the time of the training. Awoko, caught up with Lead trainer, Dr. Kwame Aidoo a beekeeping management specialist, based in Ghana shared best practices from Ghana and also commended work done in Sierra Leone, but added that much more can be achieved, with more skills and knowledge, to invest and add value to their yields. He also noted that to have knowledge in the integration of beekeeping and cashew farming is an opportunity for them as, “This practice of integration will enable bees to pollinate cashew flowers which would lead to a yield increase of about 200% of cashew nut”.
Dr. Aidoo furthered that despite the knowledge of local farmers in honey production, in Koinadugu, they are not adequately informed with the right information, skills and knowledge, regarding the new concept of integration of the two high cash yield products.
Abdul Karim Bangura a beneficiary farmer in Bombali told Awoko that the session proved worthwhile, as he now has the knowledge on value chain addition, maintaining that he never knew the integration of beekeeping and cashew farming is a profitable venture. Extension Supervisor, Bombali, Elizabeth Kamara underscored the importance of continuous training, which will help out in the field and enable local farmers to do better in honey production and cashew harvest. “I believe the knowledge and skills acquired, farmer’s yields would increase and be able to export, despite the covid pandemic”.
By Ade Campbell