Honey Improves People's Lives

Ambassador Alan Eastham on June 26 inspected Matongwe Apiaries Beekeeping Project in Mchinji District.  In September 2005 the Ambassador’s Self-Help Fund granted the project $ 450 to purchase bee suits, bee hives, smokers, packaging bottles rain boosts and other protective equipment.

Speaking during the function, District Commissioner Harry Phiri and the Project’s Chairman Clement Mayani applauded the American Government for the assistance which they said has helped to increase natural honey production from 20 to 600 kilograms per harvesting period.  They said in addition to the economic aspect, the project uses 10% percent of its profit to assist about 300 orphans in the area.  The leaders also urged people in the area to preserve their fragile environment to maintain the required ecological conditions for the bee keeping business. 
Ambassador Eastham said he was encouraged by the huge impact the Fund has had on the lives of the people of Zulu Village and the surrounding areas.  He encouraged them to maintain the self-help spirit.

Matongwe Apiaries has a number of distribution outlets in Lilongwe and Mchinji, with some super markets placing an open-ended order for their honey products.  The project is trying to replicate its efforts by training other interested groups that will soon join the trade.