In northeast Peru, women beekeepers have successfully leveraged UN climate funding to rescue their hives from extreme weather due to climate change, leading to a prosperous honey business. Despite challenges posed by severe weather events, they adapted by feeding their bees, cultivating native plants, and securing essential funding, demonstrating resilience and empowerment in the face of adversity.
In the mountainous regions of northeastern Peru, a collaborative effort among women beekeepers has significantly mitigated climate-related threats to their livelihoods, thanks, in part, to funding from climate initiatives backed by the United Nations. These women have not only salvaged their beekeeping operations from the adverse effects of climate change but have also succeeded in establishing a prosperous honey production enterprise. Chilal de la Merced, a village with a population of approximately 800, sits at an altitude exceeding 2,600 meters (8,500 feet) in the Andes. In recent years, the community has faced relentless challenges due to severe weather events, including heavy rains, droughts, frosts, and hailstorms, all attributed to a changing climate. Such erratic weather patterns have disrupted the foraging capabilities of local bees, jeopardizing their survival. In early 2022, an overwhelming amount of rainfall rendered the bees unable to leave their hives, leading to widespread starvation. “When we checked the hives, we found the boxes full of dead bees,” recounted Karina Villalobos, a representative for the Hojuelas de Miel (Honey Flakes) beekeepers association. The previous year, Villalobos and 14 fellow beekeepers sought a grant from Avanzar Rural, a project initiated by the Peruvian government alongside the United Nations International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). This program aims to support small-scale food producers in rural areas vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. After facing the urgency of their situation, they received $27,000 in climate funding amid their struggles with immediate threats from climate change, which often does not pause for funding solutions. In response to their predicament, the members of Hojuelas de Miel resolved to adapt their practices to the escalating weather challenges disrupting flowering timelines crucial for bee foraging. They implemented measures to supplement the bees’ diminished food sources by providing a mixture of sugar and vitamins. Furthermore, they actively planned long-term solutions by cultivating native plants, such as arum lilies and coffee plants, known for their drought resistance, around their hives. These plants support the expansion of the bees’ habitat, enhancing their foraging opportunities when fully grown. The plight of rural communities, small-scale farmers, and Indigenous populations often goes unnoticed, with less than 2 percent of international climate funding directed towards them. Villalobos highlighted the difficulties women face in obtaining funding, noting, “Because the owner of the land is the man, so how can we get a loan?” However, IFAD representative Juan Diego Ruiz emphasized that women are at the forefront of climate change impacts. In the past four years, Avanzar Rural has supported 1,031 small businesses in Peru, positively affecting 17,557 individuals, with IFAD contributing $24 million and the Peruvian government adding another $45 million. Hojuelas de Miel’s beekeepers contributed 10 percent of their business plan’s cost, amounting to $3,800, which facilitated the acquisition of essential equipment and the hiring of relevant technical advisors. Currently, the association operates 89 beehives, generating an annual revenue of approximately $13,000. Villalobos proudly proclaimed, “Today we are empowered and resilient women.”
The content discusses the efforts of women beekeepers in Peru who are confronting the challenges posed by climate change with the support of international climate funding. The narrative highlights their struggles and their determination to implement adaptive measures to sustain their livelihoods through beekeeping. The article also sheds light on the broader issues of women’s access to funding in agricultural sectors and the importance of supporting rural communities facing the adverse effects of climate change.
In summary, the resilience displayed by the women beekeepers in Peru exemplifies the effective utilization of climate funding to combat the impacts of climate change. Their commitment to not only saving their bees but also fostering a sustainable honey business highlights the critical role of women in agricultural resilience. Furthermore, it underscores the need for increased international climate finance directed towards rural and marginalized communities to secure their livelihoods against the backdrop of a changing climate.
Original Source: www.france24.com
