Nature-based beekeeping with Edison Vorsah of Afram Plains

Bature/Segble, Ghana — Edison M. Vorsah, a resilient youth from the Bature/Segble community in the Kwahu Afram Plains North District, is making remarkable strides in beekeeping as part of the Beekeepers Restores the Forests (BRF) of Afram Plains Project, an initiative by BfD Ghana. His inspiring journey showcases the transformative potential of sustainable beekeeping and its role in forest conservation.

Edison’s interest in beekeeping began in 2015 when he started with just two hives after completing Junior High School. His passion deepened during his final year at Abetifi Senior High and Technical School in 2019, inspired by a friend who shared the economic and environmental benefits of the trade. Upon completing his education, Edison invested GH₵500 to construct 24 top-bar beehives, leading to his first honey harvest and sales in the Donkorkrom market.

Edison Vorsah in his apiary

“I made GH₵500 from my first honey sales. I realized that beekeeping is a good business—profitable and less demanding compared to crop farming,” Edison shared. By his second harvest, he sold more than six 4-litre gallons of honey at GH₵120 each, boosting his confidence in the venture.

However, limited knowledge in hive management led to challenges, including a termite infestation that reduced his hives from 24 to just six. Undeterred, Edison sought support from the Honey and Beeswax Trade Centre, registering with the centre in 2023. This partnership proved pivotal during the last honey season (November 2023 to June 2024), when he sold over GH₵3,000 worth of honeycombs. “I used the proceeds to buy a smartphone and invested the rest in fishing and other things,” Edison said.

Now, Edison plans to expand his operation. “By the end of this year [2024], I will construct 35 more beehives with the boards I have at home. I am motivated to improve my honey revenue,” he noted.

Edison Vorsah in his apiary

The BRF Project’s tree-planting initiative has also left a lasting impact on Edison and his community. He received 13 tree seedlings, of which 11 are thriving despite the challenges of a prolonged dry season. Edison emphasised the symbiotic relationship between bees and trees, stating, “The bees produce honey from the flowers, and without trees, we cannot survive. As the old saying goes, When the last tree dies, the last man also dies.”

Edison also praised the Honey and Beeswax Trade Centre for stabilising honey prices and reducing the stress of honey extraction. “We used to sell honey to market women at low prices, but now we have a fixed rate for our honeycombs. This initiative is helping us a lot,” he said.

Edison Vorsah with a tree he planted in July 2024

Edison M. Vorsah’s journey exemplifies how sustainable practices like beekeeping can transform lives, boost local economies, and contribute to forest restoration. His story serves as an inspiration for young people in Ghana and beyond to embrace environmentally friendly livelihoods that benefit both people and the planet.

This initiative, Beekeepers Restore the Forests of Afram Plains, is proudly funded by the Darwin Initiative, whose generous support is driving sustainable livelihoods and environmental conservation in the region.