History
of the Luansobe Beekeeping Co-operative Society
Why
have a Co-operative ?
Kaloko Trust Zambia has been training beekeepers since 2000 and
has to date trained over 130 beekeepers. The beekeepers were originally
working as individuals, but as more and more people were trained
they came to Kaloko Trust and asked for help in co-ordinating them
into a group. Following discussions with the beekeepers they decided
the best way forward was to form a co-operative. Working together
would help them support each other, develop their skills, gain access
to credit and training, and increase their income.
Volunteer
support
Kaloko Trust UK enabled the Co-operative get off the ground by providing
a volunteer from the UK to assist them. Daniella Hawkins was in
Zambia from September 2005 to July 2006 to work with the beekeepers.
She helped them to register their co-operative, write a business
plan and support the initial implementation of the plan.
This work was made possible by support from the Tropical Agriculture
Award Fund and Rowse Honey. Further funding for the actual set up
of the Co-operative has been given by The Gatsby Trust for South-South
Training, the Alistair Berkley Charitable Trust and the North South
Travel Development Trust.
The
road to registration
A number of beekeepers especially dedicated to the Co-operative’s
establishment were identified. They formed an Organising Committee
to oversee the Co-operative’s initial activities. They had
an intensive period of educational field visits to co-operatives
and other relevant organisations across Zambia, to learn from the
experience of similar groups. The trips included a visit all the
way to North West Bee Products in Northwestern Province - a six-day
trip - of which two full days were spent learning the ins and outs
of co-operative management, administration and honey marketing.
Throughout
this establishment process, the Organising Committee ensured (through
very regular meetings) that the beekeeping community as a whole
were kept informed of all activities. Everyone received training
in the benefits of co-operative formation and co-operative membership
responsibilities.
Once
the group felt confident to proceed, founder members joined and
paid shares (the Co-operative’s main source of capital), the
Co-operative’s constitution was drafted, discussed and accepted,
and an interim Executive Committee was elected. All that remained
was for the Executive to meet with the Ministry of Agriculture and
Co-operatives and gain the registration certificate. It was vital
that the Co-operative was officially recognised, as it is only through
holding their registration certificate that the group can achieve
certain things such as opening a bank account with authorised signatories.
The Co-operative received their registration certificate in April
2006 after months of hard work and a final Executive Committee was
elected. The Executive Committee will be the group working to develop
the Co-operative’s business plan, and in charge of implementing
it over the coming years.
What
the future holds
The Co-operative will continue to develop its membership, marketing
and loan-making, supported by Kaloko. It expects to market 3 tonnes
of honey in November and has a target of increasing membership to
70 and to make 50 loans by the end of 2006.
Kaloko Trust will continue to offer support to the Co-operative
and of course Kaloko will continue to train beekeepers who will
then have the opportunity to become paid-up members of the new Co-operative. |
