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Sustainable Organic Beekeeping
| Zambezi 100% Organic Forest Honey is a Fairly Traded product that supports 5,000 registered organic farmers in Zambia. Local beekeepers gather honey in a sustainable, wild-crafting tradition to bring you one of the healthiest, best-tasting, organic forest honeys in the world! |
Protecting Virgin ForestsZambians depend on their forests for food, shelter, natural medicine, and income. Traditional organic beekeeping prevents deforestation by generating a viable income from a forest resource other than timber.The Lunda people of northwestern Zambia have wild-crafted honey from wild forest bees for over 500 years. Sustainable organic beekeeping is a way of life for the Lunda people, who use honey as food, to make mead, or as a natural medicine. The remote Miombo forests of Zambia have one of the highest densities of wild bee colonies in the world. Spanning more than 11,000 square miles, these pristine forests cradle the headwaters of the mighty Zambezi River. Untouched by modern civilization, this is one of the last remaining biologically diverse ecosystems in the world. By helping Zambian farmers access new markets for their organic honey, we help them to value and preserve their vital forest ecosystem. Our honey is sustainably harvested by a farmer group that has been producing organic forest honey for over 8 years, and in 2006, reached 5,000 registered members for the first time.
Fairly Traded Organic HoneyZambezi Organic Forest Honey is a fairly traded product, in the truest sense of the word. Not only are beekeepers supported with free training and materials, they are paid, on average, 40% above market prices for their organic honey.Unlike some Fair Trade organizations, our registered beekeepers are not forced to sell solely to us. Beekeepers are encouraged to sell their organic honey to the highest bidder. There is no obligation on farmers to sell to us once registered. True economic growth stems from fostering an environment of competition. Not only does this force us to do our best to pay farmers top prices for their organic honey, but it guarantees farmers that they will receive the highest value for their product.
Registration with the farmer group who produces our organic honey is a benefit for farmers, not an obligation. Benefits include:
Supporting Zambian FarmersThe Lunda people who produce Zambezi Organic Forest Honey are traditional small-scale farmers and fishermen. Often with large families, they grow most of the food they eat. Farmers have two priorities when it comes to income generation: sending their children to school, and affording medical care.
Integrated Development Services of Zambia is a small, non-governmental organization that works to better the lives of small-scale farmers in Zambia. For more information on their economic studies, please contact us at info@zambezihoney.com |
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