Women, Apiculture and Development: Evaluating the Impact of a Beekeeping Project on Rural Women’s Livelihoods

Abstract

Apiculture is often cited as a possible method of empowering rural women. Beekeeping generates a product with high market potential, while being more easily adapted to constraints of low credit and limited land access than other agricultural activities. Beekeepers in Romania are predominantly male, however studies have shown a growing popularity of the activity among women In 2008 and 2011, Heifer International introduced beekeeping to rural families in Sălaj County, Romania, encouraging equal participation among women and men. By “passing on the gift”, the project was also extended in some villages in Cluj county. The goal of the present study was to assess the projects’ impact on female beneficiaries several years later. The methodology used was surveying via a quantitative and qualitative questionnaire. The sample size was 30 women, from nine villages of the Someș River Valley involved in the project. The results of the research shown that women continue to practice subsistence farming and beekeeping remains small-scale. However, improvements in household revenues and women’s participation are observed. Production is focused mainly on honey, which is sold through informal channels. Women welcome the idea of further diversification through value-added products, and further training to improve market access could provide additional benefits. Families consume more honey and the women acknowledge nutritional benefits. The Heifer principle of “passing on the gift” helped build connections among local women beekeepers. The study offers advice and best practices for future apicultural development projects. It reminds practitioners of the importance of activities that facilitate women’s empowerment and agency in rural community development.