Beekeeping with Indigenous People in the Amazon

Looking back on 2019, the Maijuna beekeepers we train and support have made incredible strides and have much to celebrate.

A year ago, there were 50 stingless beehives in the community of Sucusari and 17 hives in the two Maijuna communities along the Yanayacu River where we had recently expanded our work. There are now 105 in Sucusari and 180 hives among the yearling beekeepers along the Yanayacu River!

This impressive growth demonstrates the dedication and buy-in of the Maijuna beekeepers and their growing mastery of management techniques. Perhaps an even clearer indicator that beekeeping will be a sustainable source of income in the long run is the beekeepers’ demonstration of how much they’ve learned. Beyond the number of hives, we have seen progress in their husbandry practices and outcomes; the true demonstration that they are putting our training into practice. During our November home visits with beekeepers along the Yanayacu River, for example, we saw thriving hives successfully divided by beekeepers who just six months earlier were struggling to keep their first stingless bees healthy. Those skills and mastery are now a resource that dozens of beekeepers are putting into practice as a source of sustainable income.

A little over a year ago, the Maijuna began sales of the honey produced by their managed hives. This is a forest-based product with long traditions of use among the Maijuna that now serves as a source of sustainable income. This year of sales has brought in over $2,500 USD in income to the communities. Given that the average Maijuna family earns less than $2 per day, this income is making a substantial difference in their lives. With their increasing mastery of techniques for multiplying hives, the Maijuna are poised to realize substantial growth in their harvest during the upcoming honey season!

Beekeepers putting their knowledge to work and seeing the fruits of their labor is an exciting position for the Maijuna stingless beekeeping project. Increases in hives, new beekeepers, and honey production all mean that the technical support we provide is all the more crucial to ensure the long-term success of this sustainable alternative to extractive economic activities. With your support we can continue to expand and support this sustainable income source for the Maijuna. Thank you for helping make 2019 a year to celebrate!