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In a collaborative effort, students from Bugema University, Malawi University of Science and Technology, Makerere University, and the University of Copenhagen participated in a two-week hands-on training program in Uganda’s Luwero and Kiboga districts to address challenges in bee farming.

Local and foreign universities have teamed up to equip students with skills in bee farming amid growing demand for bees and their products.

The students from Bugema University, Malawi University of Science and Technology, Makerere University and University of Copenhagen underwent a two-week skilling course.

They were taken through hands-on experience in farmers’ fields in Uganda’s central districts of Luwero and Kiboga to understand further challenges bee farmers face.

The training was supported by the European Union under the Erasmus Programme.

Dr Ben Mugula is the Assistant Head of Department of Bugema University’s Faculty of Agriculture.

He said the aim of exposing students to the field was to help deliver knowledge and skills to farmers on how to handle bees and their products in response to the market demands.

“Bee keeping is an important activity in farming as bees not only earn farmers money but also pollinate other plants, hence supporting the population with food,” he said.

“So, the students will have to work with farmers to address the challenges they face.”

Mugula said the hurdle for many farmers is packaging and maintaining the quality of bee products, such as honey and propolis (bee glue). This affects the final prices amid rising demand.

According to the Uganda Export Promotions Board, the global demand for honey is estimated at 1.8 million metric tonnes, with a market value of $7.8 billion (sh28.5 trillion).

But currently, Uganda produces between 100,000 and 200,000 metric tonnes of honey per year.

Some of the reasons for the low production include poor quality, poor packaging and a lack of clear marketing channels for Uganda’s honey.

Mugula said that despite the low production vis-à-vis the challenges, honey supports the population with medicinal and food properties and if embraced as a business, it has the potential to transform people’s lives.

Prof. Masiko Kafeero, the Vice-Chancellor of Bugema University, said that Uganda being predominantly an agricultural country, the learning model will help the students acquire and apply practical skills in the bee value chain.