Africa-Press – Malawi. SWEET RETURNS—Honey emerges as a growing source of incomeThe Department of Forestry has called for sustainable forest management, warning that unchecked tree cutting continues to threaten conservation efforts.
Forestry Director Titus Zulu made the remarks during the handover of 40 beekeeping equipment sets to Nkasi Honey Cooperative in Balaka under the Transforming Landscapes and Livelihoods Project (TLLP).
He said that careless cutting down of trees remains a major challenge in environmental conservation.
Zulu said the initiative aims to reduce deforestation by providing communities with alternative sources of income through honey production.
“The project is about empowering people economically while conserving our forests,” he said.
In his remarks, Nkasi Honey Cooperative Chairperson Umali Jiya said the support is expected to boost their annual income from under K500,000 to approximately K3 million.
According to Jiya, the project will transform communities, enabling people to run businesses through honey production, which will help the cooperative generate more income than before.
“As a cooperative, we are very happy to receive the materials. We hope this will transform our lives,” he said.
Sub-Traditional Authority Makwinja described the project as a lifeline for many households, saying it will improve livelihoods across the district.
According to Makwinja, beekeeping will positively impact community development as more members engage in the activity, creating a conducive environment for business.
“This will help our community members to start small businesses through honey production, which can improve economic wellbeing compared to previous years,” he said.
TLLP promotes forest-friendly economic activities to strike a balance between environmental conservation and community development.
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