Status quo of beekeeping in dryland area of Mwanga district as an entry point towards improved beekeeping intervention

Beekeeping is among the economic activities with potential to enhance incomes of smallholder households in the light of climate change through diversification with other activities. Smallholder farmers in the dryland areas of Mwanga district have been affected by climate change. The area has great potential for beekeeping based on the the fact that it has abundant availability of bee forage plants such as Acacia and other trees species and herb vegetation types. Beekeeping, thus, is one of the sectors on which efforts towards improving life standards of people can put emphasis on. However, before interventions for improved beekeeping can be implemented, understanding of the field realities on beekeeping is imperative. Such knowledge may include issues related to local household beekeeping strategies, challenges facing the sector, and mechanisms for addressing those challenges. In Mwanga district, the practice of beekeeping entailed the use of log-hives and traditional ways of beekeeping such as the use of fire in harvesting honey which can result into forest fires; beekeepers encoutered the challenges of theft of honey, lack of appropriate facilities and working gears, and low knowledge on honey production. Also, beekeepers were not organized to delibarate on their interests, instead they operated independent of one another. It was recommended that training should be provided and incentives created so as to promote beekeeping profitably and eco-friendly, and further research is recommended on the market aspects of beekeeping.