Rwanda Celebrates World Bee Day and Highlighted Women’s Role in Beekeeping

Rwanda has marked its first-ever celebration of World Bee Day, a milestone event that brought together diverse stakeholders committed to biodiversity and the protection of ecosystems. The celebration spotlighted the critical role of bees in sustaining the environment and emphasized the growing importance of apiculture as a livelihood, especially among women.

The event gathered government officials, environmental organizations, agricultural cooperatives, and rural beekeepers, researchers, creating a platform to raise awareness on the significance of bees and promote sustainable beekeeping practices.

A standout moment of the day was the recognition of women beekeepers, many of whom shared stories of how beekeeping has transformed their lives.
Uwamahoro Devota and Nyiranziza Claudine, beekeepers from Rutsiro District, expressed pride in their work, highlighting how apiculture has improved their household incomes and overall well-being.

Uwamahoro Devote and Nyiranziza Claudine talking to journalists

“Beekeeping has become more than just a source of income,” said Nyiranziza. “It has given us independence and a deeper connection to nature.”
For Tuyizere Jeanne, a young beekeeper from Kamonyi District, noticed that “The national celebration is more than a celebration. It is a powerful form of recognition. Tuyizere Jeanne encouraged young people to get involved in beekeeping, emphasizing that with knowledge and an open mind, they can help modernize this traditional sector and boost honey production. She also called for stronger advocacy to eliminate the use of harmful pesticides, which negatively affect bees and reduce honey yields.

Tuyizere Jeanne, Beekeeper from Kamonyi, participated in this celebration

“This day gives value to what we do. It shows that our work matters not only for our communities but for the entire ecosystem,” she said.
Speakers at the event emphasized the role of bees in pollination, food security, and biodiversity. They also called for increased support for rural beekeepers through training, equipment, and access to markets. Bees and other pollinators are essential to our existence. There are over 20,000 bee species and various wild pollinators, plants that form the basis of our diets. In Rwanda, we have essentially 3 bee species that are: inkenzi, inyumbo and ingina.

As Rwanda joins the global community in observing World Bee Day, the celebration underscores a growing commitment to environmental sustainability and the power of beekeeping to uplift communities, especially women and youth.

This World Bee Day celebration was characterized by various activities like the visit to Gishwati –Mukura Biosphere Reserve, the testing of different honey production, and interaction with beekeepers.

Philomene MUKANKUSI