Building upon the successful consultancy to ZHC by PROINVEST, where a detailed analysis of both the apiculture sector and the role that ZHC can play in helping develop this industry was undertaken. One of the key constraints identified was the lack of accessible finance to different business entities identified along the value chain. So as to avoid bottlenecks in the supply of honey to the consumer it was felt that by following and supporting all players along the value chain, this will be a successful strategy. This type of support is already being effectively implemented by other associations such as ZNFU and the Cotton Association of Zambia. It is from this position that ZHC has taken up the initiative to source funding support to introduce credit management assistance  along the value chain to its members with the ultimate objective of improving access to finance by ZHC members.
The workshop targeted honey processors and traders as a sample group with representation from the honey producing districts.
The workshop is part of the planned support to ZHC members in improving services to members. This particular need “Lack of Adequate Access to Finance” by members was identified in a previous study undertaken by ZHC in the first quarter of 2011. ZHC will charge a small fee to members for facilitating financial linkages which are to help towards increasing the council’s sustainability.
The main workshop output was to help with improved access to finance for players supporting the value chain and in particular producers and processors. From previous studies one of the major constraints identified was poor access to finance by producers and processors thus limiting their capacities to grow their businesses.
The methodology used was in a consultative process where a short summary concerning the industry status was presented highlighting:

• Key aspects
• Value chain categories
• Needs of the value chain players
• Producer business constraints
• Processor business constraints
• Business characteristics of the different value chain categories
• Who needs to access loans in the value chain
• What do Banks look for when lending money?
• Good small scale producer borrowing characteristics
• Good processor borrowing characteristics

The training materials and models will be deigned using information from previous studies, interviews with both potential borrowers and suppliers of finance while being in compliance with the regulatory laws as guided by the Bank of Zambia.
Specific financial related identified needs captured in the meeting were:

• Participants are looking for loan amounts of between K500,000 to K2 billion 
• Producers are looking for group structured loans
• Processors are more inclined to request individual loans of larger amounts
• Processors have secured successful supply contracts with the bigger supermarket chains but are still facing problems in sourcing adequate raw material supplies from producers
• Processors are looking for innovative business models with which to work with producers so as to be able to increase the supply of quality produce
• CETZAM does not have specific loan products for bee producers
• Some Mpongwe producers are failing to sell their produce due to poor quality (require equipment and capacity building)
• CETZAM’s Services
• Supplies agriculture loans to groups of small scale farmers without fixed asset security
• Supplies loans to Small to Medium Enterprises operating as companies from K50 million to K250 million from 4 to 24 months; normally some form of fixed asset security has to be prepared
• The processing fee is 3.8% for all loans
• Deposits of 10% to 20% of the loan amount have to be made to the Loan Security Fund
• Planning to reduce interest rates from 4% to 3% / month on loan amounts
• Key man insurance is taken out which is charged at 1.44% interest
• Prepared to act as a facilitator to help businesses access cheaper long term finance
• Proposed that information should be collected in a structured way from potential clients
• Has qualified credit officers in agriculture that are able to offer technical support to customers
• Willing to offer an Invoice Discounting service to ZHC members at a favourable rate
• Does not support start-up businesses; applicants must have some minimum business skills in the areas of activity
• Is now able to accept cheques from customers due to its new arrangement with Stanbic Bank
• Offers mortgages up to a period of 6 years
• Is working with Cell Pay in enhancing electronic payments but has no agreement with Airtel Money service.
• Recommendations / Way-forward
• ZHC to provide a loan request desk for members looking to access financial support for processors and for producers supplying these processors
• ZHC to help identify and screen suitable members to qualify for CETZAM loan support
• ZHC/CETZAM to develop a loan application template specific to the honey value chain for applicants
• Letters from ZHC lobbying government to help institutions (CETZAM) access development funds
• Sharing of information concerning ZHCs service of improved access to finance to the greater ZHC membership
• ZHC to negotiate with CETZAM on loan facilitation fees to help in enhancing ZHCs sustainability (part of the MOU)
• All applicants applying  for honey value chain financial support to CETZAM have to be paid –up members of ZHC
• ZHC/CETZAM to develop and sign an MOU listing the responsibilities and key characteristics of the relationship including the specific loan agreement template
• Negotiate invoice discounting package for members.

In a survey conducted by the editorial staff of this publication in Kabompo, bee-keepers have recommended using the SMS system to find market for their bee-products.
In an interview one of bee-keepers and a member of the Honey Area Association in Kabompo said that he has sold some bee-products using the SMS system.    
ZHC in liaison with ZNFU has introduced a market service system where bee keepers are able to access honey buyers using a mobile phone. The system work as follows:-

• - Go to phone SMS page
• - Type the first four (4) letters of honey, e.g. hone
• - Send to 4455
• - A reply message with a list of registered companies including the price they are buying at will come
• - Type the abbreviations of the preferred company and send to 4455 
• - The reply containing the contact address of the company, residential address, contact person, phone number and all necessary information will come
• - By following the above steps, beekeepers are able discuss with buyers, and agree before travelling with their commodities.

Top bar hive beekeeping as an alternative method of beekeeping has been practiced in many countries around the world.
There are different shapes and materials used for the bee hive, though the general principle is a box covered with wooden bars beneath which the bees will build their combs. The top bars can be lifted and removed for inspection and management purposes.

Keeping bees in Top bar hives requires extensive skills and knowledge about all beekeeping matters. The top bar hive method is an appropriate technology because it uses simple equipment and locally available materials.

However, success can only be expected if the beekeeper is willing and able to actively direct the development of bees and apply the same management ideas practiced during basic training course attended in beekeeping.

It is very difficult to start without advice and guidance by an experienced beekeeper. At least intensive practical course is highly recommended for every one wishing to take up Top bar hive beekeeping technology.

Top bar hive beekeeping needs some investment. How long it will take until the investment is recovered depends mainly on the type of equipment, the skills of the beekeeper and the ecological conditions in the area where the hives are put. A wooden hive has become very expensive and for a beginner, therefore, a hive out of cheaper material is recommended. The twelve courses conducted last year, however, had to take this concept into consideration. The major items needed are readily available at no fee at all, whilst those which are rather too sophisticated to be made by mere farmers are given to them on an affordable loan.
Further, the beekeeping industry has just started to develop in Zambia. All items introduced are made or manufactured by EDZ and other institutions in the country.

The Zambia Honey Council (ZHC) board which was elected last October has a representation with vast experiences in different fields of entrepreneurship and service provision some of which affect the honey sector.
The ZHC board undertook a two days orientation course at the In-service Training Trust at NRDC to equip them with information on ZHC activities and abreast them with their specific responsibilities as board members.
According to information obtained from the ZHC Secretariat the Zambia Honey Council (ZHC) held its Annual General Meeting(AGM) on 14th October 2009.
In 2009, ZHC underwent an assessment conducted by an independent consultant who was contracted by some ZHC’s cooperating partners. The report recommendations suggested on how best ZHC could be strengthened this included holding an AGM.   Nine board members were elected three were females making a 33% representation.

The Zambia Honey Council (ZHC in conjunction with the Environment Development of Zambia conducted training for bee-keepers in Business and marketing skills linked to field standards, gender mainstreaming and HIV & AIDS, and the SMS marketing information system, which will provide the bee Keepers  with market linkage access for the honey and other bee products.
                        
Environment development of Zambia (EDZ) was selected to provide specific training  in market product specifications and field standards using simple, practical equipment in Luampa & Nyambi Kaoma district, Ndongwe & Tumbama, Lukulu district, muyambala & matushi” matushi B  Mufumbwe district, Kulwashi & chongo in Kapombo district,Sungula & Mukubila, Kapirimposhi district , Kapyanga and Kaindu, Mumbwa district.
    
The targeted beekeepers were also trained using agreed field standards/best practices in the stated locations. On the-job practical pilot training in field standards and best practices using simple, practical equipment and training in Management of bulking centers in the pilot areas was also conducted in the selected districts.
                                   
Zambia Honey Council (ZHC) Coordinator Bill Kalaluka sad that the training are designed to facilitate capacity building in appropriate knowledge and skills that will result in attracting buyers from the international and regional markets  providing attractive prices to the honey industry.
He said that the training is also part of the ZHC interventions deliberately designed to transform beekeeping in Zambia from a mere subsistence traditional activity to a business industry that can sustain livelihoods of individuals both at community and national level.
       
He said that the bee-products intervention is one of the programs ZHC has designed to address some of the marketing problems smallholder bee-products farmers are facing. 
  
The intervention in the sector aims to strengthen the capacity of bark hive beekeeper and gatherers in Zambia through the Zambia Honey Council (ZHC). The beekeepers will benefit from the introduction of quality assurance mark and the drive to promote Zambian honey and beeswax in the local and regional market.