Honey Value Chain As A Vehicle for Attracting Youth into Agriculture:

The Case of Tigray Region, Ethiopia

Melaku Gebreyesus

Food Security Advisor

GGGI, Ethiopia Country Office

The Fourth GGKP Annual Conference6-7 September 2016Jeju Island, Republic of Korea

Topics to cover

1. Introduction

2. Why Focus on HVC

3. HVC as a Growing Subsector

4. HVC Attracting Youth Employment

5. HVC Potential Challenges

6. Conclusions and

Recommendations

1. Introduction: The bigger Picture

Poverty Reduction Strategy Program (PRSP: 2002/03-/2010)Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP): 2011/12-24/25

Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE), Conservation-Based Agriculture, Food Security, Disaster Risk Management, Social Protection

Of the key areas for development, poverty reduction (food security, job creation, nutrition and empowering vulnerable population).

10 percent per year since 2003 and a significant poverty reduction in urban and rural areas.

Policies/Plans

Strategies Development Priorities

Economic Growth Rate

1. Introduction: Development Dragsand Needs

Dependence on rain-fed agriculture

Investment on Natural Resource Management

Agricultural transformation and non-agricultural livelihoods diversification

Job Opportunity Creation in rural and urban areas

GT

P n

eed

s

Domestic food insecurity

High unemployment/underemployment rate

GTP, guided by CRGE aims to address these

Clim

atean

d p

op

ulatio

n re

lated

drag G

OA

L:M

idd

lein

com

eco

un

try

by

20

25

• HVC is growing organically due to its historical legacy and is environmentally friendly: mutually enforced with the enhancement of natural resource management.

• It fits into government’s development priorities-food security and job creation.

• It has a better comparative advantage than other agricultural subsectors.

• Complementarities and synergies: as a viable ecofriendly business, safety net, DRM, climate resilient economy, as a contributor to biodiversity

2. Why Focus on HVC: Motivation

But, HVC is still the least exploited: not comparable to its potential for transformation.

• Inclusive and transformational development approach

• Marketability and quality: unique features (taste, color, odor) and highly marketable at local and national markets. Examples

A sugar-type (sand-type) white honey

A light brownhoney

A deep yellow

waxy honey A deep red

hone

A light yellow

waxy honey

• Market potential: Ethiopia has since 2008 become one of the only

six African countries (Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Cameroon and

Ghana) to export honey to Europe

3. What Makes HVC a Growing Subsector?

• Affordability (“start-up capital”) and profitability of honey and beeswax

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

White pure honey White crude honey Red/mix crude honey

Market price by honey types (in main cities (e.g. Mekelle): Source: RCOP,

2016

USD 1=ETB 21

4. HVC Attracting Youth Employment

• Production and productivity: Trend in honey production in Tigray region: BoA (2016)

0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000

2005/06

2006/07

2007/08

2008/09

2009/10

2010/11

2011/12

2012/13

2013/14

2014/15

2015/16YEARS

4. HVC Attracting Youth Employment

32

Royal jelly

candle

Beeswax

4. HVC Attracting Youth Employment• Strong value chain functions; potential for

entrepreneur

POTENTIAL CHALLENGES TO HONEY VALUE CHAIN

Lack of database

Qualitystandards

Dominated by Production-

oriented approach

Lack of regional specific HVC strategy and

development plan.

Lack of database

Development induced

challenges

5. HVC Potential Challenges

CONCLUSIONS• HVC practices in Tigray region are innovative in nature and linked to

the natural resource management.

• HVC has far reaching benefits• Complementary and synergetic benefits to Agriculture and rural

livelihoods• Contributes to enhancing food security, employment and green

and climate resilient economic growth.• High potential and strong value chain function

• HVC is environmentally friendly and enhancing inclusive growth.

• However, HVC is still the least exploited- not comparable to its potential for transformation. • It is still treated as an alternative livelihoods-not yet transformed

into a formal subsector.

6.Conclusions & Recommendations

RECOMMENDATIONS

The study recommends that:

1. Growth of HVC needs to come through a shift from business as usual (production and supply oriented) to a value chain lens approach.

“With expanding national and international markets, there is a need to invest smartly to match supply with demand.”

2. In line with the national strategy and development plan, there is a need for a regional specific HVC strategy and development plan in order to address the potential challenges and to reap more and sustainable benefits.

8. Conclusions & Recommendations

Thank You

Melaku Gebreyesus

GGGI, Ethiopia Country Office

melaku.gebreyesus@gggi.org

T: +251 (0)911343784