The way the project was designed will enable the beekeeping section of BERUDEP to become self-financing within five years of its inception, so that widespread training and field extension services are funded from effectively-run beekeeping activities. A 300-colony bee farm is being set up. This will produce the necessary income to enable the continuation of the work.

Beekeepers are also taught the value of ‘bee-loving’ trees, which will encourage them to preserve and indeed plant more, thus protecting precious forest habitat, reducing erosion and landslides which are common in this steeply mountainous area.

A final bonus is that sustainable beekeeping techniques help to prevent bush fires by using locally made, ‘closed smokers’ of better design, and the use of vetiver grass to act as fire breaks around the hives.