They have, therefore, urged farmers in forest fringe communities who are engaged in the “Tuangya” system to continue to produce honey from these trees to support their livelihoods.

Mr Richard Okyere-Amoateng, a Researcher of the FC, who made this known, however, said Cedrela tree could not be used to produce honey due to its onion-like smell which repelled the bees.

Mr Okyere-Amoateng, who is the Assistant Manager of the Nkawie Forest District, was presenting his findings on the viabilities of trees used for forest restoration programmes to support alternative livelihood programmes for farmers engaged in the “Tuangya” system, at a forum at Akyawkrom in the Ejisu Municipality.

The study formed part of the “Improving Smallholders’ Food and Income Security through Non-Timber Forest Product in Restoring Schemes”, being implemented by the Resource Management Support Centre (RMSC) of the FC.

The objective is to introduce bee keeping as a concept of livelihood empowerment for the “Tuangya” farmers in the various forest restoration plantations in Nkawie, Mankranso and Goaso forest districts and how honey and other bee-related products would be profitable to the socio-economic empowerment of the farmers.

The project is being implemented in partnership with the University of Amsterdam, University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Ministry of Food and Agriculture, ASSNAPP and RUDEYA, both NGOs in Kumasi with funding from WOTRO ARF in the Netherlands.  

Mr Okyere-Amoateng said the FC in all its forest restoration programmes over the years, has used Teak, Cedrela and Ofram tree species.It was, therefore, important to conduct the study to inform an idea on whether these species which are readily available, could be used as hives to produce honey as an alternative livelihood support for farmers in the fringe communities, while at the same time, encouraging them to protect the forest from bush fires.

Mr Okyere-Amoateng said bee-keeping is not expensive, easy to practice, not gender biased while it could be harvested annually to generate enough income for practitioners.

Mrs Valerie Fumey Nassah, Project Officer at RMSC, said the three-year project (2016-2019) was to support research work into the incorporation of non-timber forest products, such as grains of paradise, black pepper and honey into the restoration plantations.

She said the “Tuangya” system allowed farmers to plant food crops in addition to trees in degraded forest reserves which were being replanted.

Dr Edith van Ewijk, a Researcher from the University of Amsterdam, said the Dutch government considers it important to stimulate the exchange of knowledge between different stakeholders, researchers, policymakers and farmers in order to increase food security and promote sustainable development.