Protecting people, environment: BADEP trains Bakassi farmers in sustainable beekeeping.

Experts believe the area’s rich mangrove ecosystems and abundant flowering plants can enable local farmers to embrace beekeeping as a pathway to more sustainable and diversified livelihoods.

Under the programme, selected farmers across mainland areas of the peninsula, including localities such as Bamusso, Isangele, and Kombo Abedimo Subdivisions in Ndian Division, received hands-on training in contemporary honeybee farming techniques. 

The lessons covered essential skills like hive management, safe honey harvesting, packaging, and marketing strategies to help participants establish viable beekeeping enterprises.

To complement the training, beneficiaries were provided with critical equipment, including modern hives, protective gear such as suits and veils, smokers, and other necessary tools. This practical assistance aims to improve safety, efficiency, and overall honey production yields.

Nyakangah Forwang Lawrence, Coordinator of BADEP, said the peninsula has natural advantages for apiculture: its mangrove forests and diverse flora provide an ideal environment for bees. 

The initiative, he said, will empower farmers, while simultaneously promoting biodiversity conservation and environmentally sustainable practices. 

Speaking to the press, he said beekeeping was a low-cost, high-impact activity that aligns with broader goals of reducing pressure on traditional, climate-vulnerable activities like fishing. He added that it was a strategic investment in the area's future. He emphasised that beekeeping offers significant potential to transform rural households by generating income, while preserving the environment.

A key feature of the programme is the organisation of participants into cooperatives. This structure will foster collective bargaining, enabling better market access, negotiated pricing, quality control standards, knowledge sharing among farmers, and potential access to financing or additional technical support.

Furthermore, BADEP officials said they expected the project to result in the creation of employment opportunities, especially for youths and women, alongside contributions to food security through increased honey production and related products. 

By diversifying economic activities beyond fishing, the effort seeks to build greater community resilience in an area historically challenged by border issues, limited infrastructure, and environmental sensitivities.

BADEP has reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to inclusive rural development through innovative, eco-friendly agricultural solutions, with this beekeeping push serving as a practical example of efforts to harness local ecological strengths for long-term socio-economic progress.

The article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3739 of Monday March 23, 2026