Buzzing with Hope : Post Conflict Communities are turning to beekeeping to rebuild their lives
January 20, 2025

Beekeeping is a vital income-generating activity for millions of smallholder farmers in Ethiopia, especially in the northern regions. Beekeeping in Afar and Tigray holds significant potential due to favorable climates and diverse flora, which provide ideal conditions for honey production. It has long been a traditional livelihood, and with the right support and infrastructure, it could become an even greater economic driver.
In the Eastern Zone of Tigray, Gerealta woreda has significant potential for honey production. Before the war, there were 11,000 traditional beehives and 3,500 modern beehives, with farmers harvesting honey three times a year. Fifteen cooperatives were involved in beekeeping, linked to retailers and exporters in Wukro and Mekelle. The region is known for its climate, which is conducive to honey production, and honey is both a valuable local commodity and an important export product. Honey production is seasonal, with peak harvests in September and October. The honey, especially from the Leucas abyssinica as a source of pollen and nectar, is a special white honey that is highly demanded for its quality.
However, the conflict in northern Ethiopia severely impacted honey producers in Tigray. It disrupted the honey supply chain, making it harder for beekeepers to access markets and sell their products. Many beekeeping infrastructures, such as hives and processing facilities, were destroyed. Like other farmers, honey producers lost their primary source of income due to the destruction of crops and livestock.
According to Tesfaye, the woreda Livestock Coordinator, the honey production dropped from 700 quintals to 500 quintals per year due to looted beehives. Many cooperatives collapsed, leading to illegal retailers and honey adulteration affected honey quality.
The local authorities in both Tigray and Afar are playing a crucial role in revitalizing beekeeping by supplying beehives and raw materials to restart apiculture.
Abeba Gezahegh, a mother of four from Gerealta, faced severe hardships when two of her children joined the warring parties. Before the conflict, she made a living farming wheat and teff, but the conflict made it difficult to care for her family, and she struggled to feed them with what she could get through humanitarian aid. After the conflict stopped, she learned of her elder son's death in battle, which devastated her family.
"Losing my eldest son, who had been supporting me, made me feel depressed,” Abeba said.
In June 2024, local authorities provided Abeba with ETB 30,000, and she used that to buy four beehives and started beekeeping. This ignited hope in Abeba’s life. With the help of her son, she harvested 58 kilos of honey in her first two extractions and earned ETB 70,000. She used her profits to buy a cow for ETB 30,000, which provided milk for her grandchildren. Abeba's living conditions improved, and she was able to meet her basic needs and support her family.

Negasi Hailay, Abeba’s son, had prior experience with beekeeping and he joined her in the business. “During the conflict, I fled to another village to protect myself from the bombings. Afterward, I worked as a laborer. Being selected for livelihood interventions renewed my energy and optimism,” Negasi said. He now helps expand the business, which currently has seven bee colonies. “I dream of owning a processing machine to help expand the business and directly link with retailers in Mekelle,” he added.
Reviving Beekeeping
Abeba's story is just one example of how beekeeping is helping post-conflict communities bounce back to rebuild their lives.

In Yalo woreda, Afar, Husan Mohammed also received materials from local authorities to build beehives. With these materials, Husan was able to harvest up to 50 kilos of honey during a good market season, improving his income and outlook for the future.
“With the materials provided, we constructed beehive boxes, and from these, we harvested up to 50 kilos of honey in a good market season,” he said.
Similarly in Raya Chercher woreda in Tigray, a cooperative has recently raw materials to start building their own beehives and planting the seeds for future bee production. 600,000 was distributed across four other beekeeping groups, each group receiving 150,000 ETB with individual members receiving 30,000each.
Each group comprised 15 men and five women. They have recently purchased new modern hives and are in the process of assembling them. Previously, they used traditional beehives for honey production. However, they are now preparing the new hives and plan to transition the bees into them in a few months. At this stage, honey production has not yet commenced.
From Displacement to Sustainability
The conflict caused immense hardship for the community, with families trapped in dangerous areas and forced to flee to seek refuge. In Afar, beekeepers like Husan struggled to tend to their hives due to the unsafe environment, and many bees abandoned their colonies. The community relied on mutual support, sharing food and resources.
“Now, the situation has improved, especially after receiving support. When the bees have access to more food, they produce more honey. I have prepared 50 boxes for future harvests,” Husan explained.
Through the restoration of beekeeping practices, farmers are not only regaining their livelihoods but are also helping to restore ecological balance. Beekeeping has a multitude of benefits, including supporting the economic and nutritional needs of pastoralists, promoting natural resource conservation, and boosting local economies.
While progress has been made, beekeepers still face challenges such as a lack of materials, poor technical support, and weak market linkages. To further boost honey exports and strengthen the entire value chain, continued investment is essential. With proper training, modern equipment, and better market access, beekeeping has the potential to significantly improve the livelihoods of farmers in Tigray and Afar, contributing to both economic growth and ecological sustainability.

As beekeepers rebuild their businesses and reconnect with markets, the future of beekeeping in northern Ethiopia, with the adequate support, looks promising.
The multi-partner UNDP-managed Peace Support Facility has been supporting local authorities in Afar, Amhara and Tigray to help communities rebuild their lives and livelihoods after the northern Ethiopia conflict. The UNDP project has received financing from the governments of Germany, Japan, and the Netherlands, as well as UNDP Core Partners.