Proposal for a Bee-Keeping/Honey Production Project – Nepal

Background

 Global Support Link (GSL) is a UK based charity, founded in 2008, working to enable small overseas NGOs and community groups in lower income countries to end poverty by delivering locally led solutions and to enable sustainable approaches to development.

 Earlier this year we enabled a local NGO to carry out a beekeeping project for ten women in Bhethanchok village, Nepal. The project is now up and running, with the bees developing their hives (as shown in the photos).

 Proposed Project

 Following on from the success of the existing project, we would like to start another beekeeping and honey production project nearby in Gairigau village in Panauti to support 13 single ladies – widows and single mothers – so that they may support themselves and their families; about 40 people will benefit in all. These are some of the poorest people in the vicinity and they do not have regular incomes. In order to survive they get occasional work on local farms and are given a meal for three hours work or perhaps a small amount of money. They have very unfortunate circumstances and this project will help them gain some dignity and empower them to make changes in their lives. In the first year of the project we expect each person to gain approximate £10 per month. After approximately six months, as more hives are added, their income will rise to a more respectable level.

 We will provide training from an experienced beekeeper and start-up needs such as hives, protective clothing, bees, smokers etc. We have assessed the market and there are plenty of opportunities to sell in the local vicinity. As we have seen with ladies working together, we expect a cooperative environment, with members of the group supporting each other and other local people.

 We have assessed the costs and potential profits:

 Costs

 Training -                                                 15,000 NPR

Equipment –                                        15,000 NPR

13 Hives with bees –                    130,000 NPR

Total -                                                        160,000NPR  equivalent to £950

 For the costs, GSL will cover training and the participants will buy their own equipment – this gives a sense of ownership and buy-in from the local community. We would request that the cost of the hives and bees - £750 - be covered by the Rotary eClub of Innovation.

 Income

 Approximately 20kg of honey per annum per hive @ 1000 NPR per kg = 20,000 NPR per annum per hive  

ie Profit per hive = £115 per annum

Plus potential sales from pollen and beeswax

 We expect that, over time, the group will grow their income with assistance from the local NGO, providing a better quality of life for the group and their families.

 We hope you will be able to support that this small, but effective and quickly realised, project with no overhead costs.

 John Pepper

Chair, Global Support Link

www.globalsupportlink.org