The company Green Community Mind (GRECOM), in collaboration with the Federation of Enterprises of Congo (FEC), held on Friday, October 17, 2025, in Goma, a consultative workshop bringing together actors from the beekeeping value chain in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The meeting gathered, in the presence of government decision-makers, several organizations and associations of beekeepers as well as small-scale honey producers from different territories in the North and South Kivu provinces.
The aim of this session was to assess the current state of the beekeeping sector in the two provinces and to identify possible solutions to the real challenges faced by beekeepers, with the goal of improving this key sector for food security — still too often neglected.
According to Déborah NZARUBARA, beekeeper and Managing Director of GRECOM, the workshop sought to allow beekeepers and small honey producers to express the challenges they face daily, so that GRECOM could propose practical solutions through digital approaches and methods adapted to new technologies.
Situation Analysis and Challenges Faced by Beekeepers in the Territories
In his presentation on the general state of the beekeeping sector, Gervais Yade, a beekeeper from the territory of Rutshuru, recalled the essential role played by bees in food security
« Beyond honey production, the bee remains a major player in plant pollination, making it one of the key factors for good agricultural yields », he explained.
However, he went on, beekeeping faces several challenges, including insecurity, which leads to the destruction of hives, theft of equipment, and the inability of some beekeepers to access their farms. Added to this is the lack of a legal framework protecting stakeholders and regulating honey marketing, resulting in the spread of low-quality products on the market.
For Nyandugu Alphonsine, a beekeeper in Rutshuru, insecurity remains the main problem :
« In Rutshuru, the main challenge is the safety of our hives. Sometimes attackers burn our pastures, and our hives are not spared. Thieves know when we are in the harvest period — they come before us and steal our honey without restraint, which slows the growth of bee colonies. Even when we catch these thieves, the authorities do not react, due to the absence of legal texts to protect us. »
From Walikale, beekeeper Hangi Gérard also highlighted security concerns while pointing out the lack of recognition for the beekeeping profession :
« In Walikale, beekeeping is still new. Beekeepers are not considered on the same level as cattle or goat farmers, even though our work is essential. Some herders bring their livestock into our installations, causing the bees to flee or destroying the vegetation necessary for production. Furthermore, climate change complicates our work. We need training to adapt better. »
For Shukuru Makeke, representative of the Nyiragongo Beekeepers Network (RAN), the main challenge is access to hives :
« The current issue is that some beekeepers cannot reach their hives due to persistent insecurity. In addition, our hives are often destroyed by people who are unaware of the importance of bees. We hope that beekeepers can be officially identified and recognized, to prevent impersonation and honey theft on the market. »
In the Idjwi territory (South Kivu), Olivier Bunyona, breeder and farmer, emphasized the need to certify honey sold on the market :
« Our first challenge in Idjwi is the lack of suitable equipment, which directly affects our production. With traditional methods, production remains low. Then, in the market, we face unfair competition from fake beekeepers selling poor-quality honey at low prices. It is urgent to identify real beekeepers, certify products, and regulate prices to clean up the market. »
Solutions Proposed by GRECOM
After gathering the difficulties reported by beekeepers in its intervention zones, GRECOM’s Managing Director, Déborah NZARUBARA, announced several ongoing initiatives to address these challenges.To ensure security and honey quality, GRECOM has developed Nyuki Tech, a digital innovation that enables beekeepers to access real-time information on markets, climate alerts, and technical advice. This platform will be accompanied by an “Api Card”, an identification card equipped with a chip assigned to each registered beekeeper.
Furthermore, the company plans to establish a honey certification laboratory to ensure the quality of products sold on the market. State authorization is already in progress to make this initiative operational.
About GRECOM
Green Community Mind (GRECOM) is a company committed to regenerative beekeeping for nearly five years. It supports small producers in the territories of Masisi, Rutshuru, Walikale, and Nyiragongo (North Kivu), as well as Kalehe and Idjwi (South Kivu). Its mission is to promote sustainable beekeeping as a pillar of food security and community resilience.
