Livelihood security along beekeeping value chain: lessons from Ghana’s beekeeping experience

The paper examines the security of beekeeping livelihoods amongst men and women in rural and peri-urban Ghana. Using qualitative and quantitative methods, 85 (n = 85) in-depth interviews with individual actors in the beekeeping value chain and institutions were carried out to examine access to resources, strategies, motivations and livelihood outcomes of beekeeping. The findings reveal that although both men and women make a livelihood from beekeeping, it is a male dominated livelihood activity. Women are more challenged in terms of equipment ownership. Institutional support both from governmental and non-governmental circles in the form of education, training and supply of equipment is key in ensuring that beekeepers make optimal gains from beekeeping operations.