Apiculture/Agro-forestry

“People want to try and preserve something they recognize as important…..such as bees pollinating the food supply”

J. Hayes/apiculture specialist Florida Department of Agriculture

In early June, 2011 the ARN Foundation, under the direction of Myriam Duret coordinated an exchange of 15,000 Moringa oleifera trees with the GAEFH group for apicultural training and beekeeping hives at our Digue Matheau nursery.  GAEFH, is a group with  9 associations of women, with a total of 800 members. The goal of the project is to increase the revenue for the women’s associations, by providing the highly desirable Moringa flowers for pollination and nectar source. It is also to re-forestate regions that have been devastated by erosion and flooding.

Presently the GAEFH, which is financed by the German Embassy in Haiti, is located in Petit Goave. It has 68 beehives, all fabricated by Haitian artisans. The Moringa trees, are to be distributed to the women with about 20 trees per person, who will then be responsible for the trees to plant, protect and take care of.

The Moringa oleifera trees provided by the ARN  Foundation, are a valued source of nutrients. Within the flowers nectar include: vitamins A, B and C, amino acids, calcium, iron and antioxidants. The trees are extremely draught resistant, flowers all year long and thrive on non-agricultural terrains.

With this exchange of trees for beehives, it is the intent of the ARN Foundation to develop an apiculture program for training and processing of the Moringa honey, so as to help provide food security and revenues for our nurseries. In addition, this project hopefully will demonstrate the need for ngo’s working in Haiti, to look for ways in which cooperation can become the norm rather than the exception.