BeeSweet's Economic Impact in Zambia
BeeSweet is estimating that with just five hives, rural Zambian farmers can double their annual income. According to two recent studies, the average Zambian farmer earns about $72.00 per year. Five BeeSweet hives can add an additional $150.00 of honey-generated income to the rural household.
BeeSweet estimates that approximately 50 percent of their hives are harvested in any one harvest. This is due to the length of time some hives have been in the bush or the exiting of colonies from some hives. With this in mind, BeeSweet harvests an average of 15kg per hive, per harvest. With two harvests per year, a hive will generate about 30kg of honey each year, and BeeSweet pays the farmer $1.00 per kg for her honey. Multiply this by five hives and you get about $150.00 USD per year in honey-generated income. In other words,
30kg/hive/year x $1.00 kg = $30 US per hive
5 Hives per Farmer = $150.00 USD per year in honey income
While this income supplement is substantial on its own, BeeSweet is beginning to increase the number of hives each farmer would oversee. With 20 hives, for instance, she would earn $600.00 US from the honey. This considerable increase in household income could make a huge impact on the quality of housing, food, clothing and schooling for her children.
In addition to the farmers’ income, BeeSweet also compensates its Mentors and the Harvesters, who get an additional $.30 per kg. For the current harvest alone, this payment will yield some $25,000 US for these individuals to spend in their rural communities.
As a final note, of the 62,000 hives in the bush today, less than half were there 1 year ago. That means that in the coming 6-12 months, a huge number of new hives will be ready for harvest. Our total tonnage of honey should triple!
BeeSweet estimates that approximately 50 percent of their hives are harvested in any one harvest. This is due to the length of time some hives have been in the bush or the exiting of colonies from some hives. With this in mind, BeeSweet harvests an average of 15kg per hive, per harvest. With two harvests per year, a hive will generate about 30kg of honey each year, and BeeSweet pays the farmer $1.00 per kg for her honey. Multiply this by five hives and you get about $150.00 USD per year in honey-generated income. In other words,
30kg/hive/year x $1.00 kg = $30 US per hive
5 Hives per Farmer = $150.00 USD per year in honey income
While this income supplement is substantial on its own, BeeSweet is beginning to increase the number of hives each farmer would oversee. With 20 hives, for instance, she would earn $600.00 US from the honey. This considerable increase in household income could make a huge impact on the quality of housing, food, clothing and schooling for her children.
In addition to the farmers’ income, BeeSweet also compensates its Mentors and the Harvesters, who get an additional $.30 per kg. For the current harvest alone, this payment will yield some $25,000 US for these individuals to spend in their rural communities.
As a final note, of the 62,000 hives in the bush today, less than half were there 1 year ago. That means that in the coming 6-12 months, a huge number of new hives will be ready for harvest. Our total tonnage of honey should triple!