A beekeeping venture at Nyandungu Eco-Park is targeting annual honey production of about 5,000 kilogrammes, with projected revenues of Rwf40 million once it reaches its planned production capacity. The venture is being developed by Nyandungu Honey Star Cooperative, which comprises 48 members, 70 per cent of them women, as part of efforts to turn the park’s restored biodiversity into sustainable economic opportunities. The cooperative has been allocated a designated beekeeping site within the park and provided with 100 modern beehives, equipment and training in modern beekeeping techniques. Members are also receiving continued technical and business development support. Ildephonse Kambogo, the manager of Nyandungu Eco-Park, said the initiative seeks to take advantage of improved conditions for beekeeping following the restoration of the wetland and its biodiversity. According to the cooperative’s business plan, members expect to produce approximately 5,000 kilogrammes of honey annually, generating an estimated Rwf40 million in annual income once the enterprise reaches its planned production level. “These figures represent projected results. Realising them will depend on colony health, forage availability, production performance, product quality and access to reliable markets,” Kambogo said. ALSO READ: Beekeepers weigh in on how to boost honey production He said the initiative is intended to equip cooperative members with the skills and resources required to manage bee colonies, increase honey production and build a viable enterprise linked to conservation. For the cooperative’s members, particularly women, the venture is expected to provide opportunities for increased household incomes, greater participation in enterprise management and improved economic prospects. Kambogo said continued mentoring, sound cooperative governance, quality control, appropriate packaging and market development would be essential to turning the projected production and revenues into sustainable returns. Nasson Ntirenganya, president of Nyandungu Honey Star Cooperative, said members were still setting up the operation and had yet to make their first harvest. “We have not yet harvested, as we are still setting up. Each member was previously working independently, but we have joined forces to form a cooperative and take advantage of the investment opportunity,” Ntirenganya said. “We are preparing to harvest in February next year.” Conservation meets business The beekeeping venture is emerging from the wider restoration of Nyandungu wetland, which has improved vegetation and forage availability for bees and other pollinators. Nyandungu Eco-Tourism Park (NEP), a recreational space and wildlife habitat in the City of Kigali, currently covers 121 hectares, comprising about 70 hectares of wetland and 50 hectares of forest. It hosts more than 62 indigenous plant species. The restoration of the wetland and development of the eco-tourism park involved planting 17,000 trees representing 55 indigenous species. Nearly 200 bird species that had migrated from the area because of wetland degradation have also returned following its rehabilitation. ALSO READ: Nyandungu Eco-Park to expand cycling trails The park is set to expand by an additional 43 hectares, while its cycling and walking trails are expected to increase from the current 10 kilometres to 15 kilometres. Kambogo said the improved ecosystem has created conditions for enterprises such as beekeeping while demonstrating how environmental restoration can generate economic benefits. “Nyandungu Eco-Park demonstrates how wetland restoration can protect biodiversity while promoting sustainable livelihoods in Rwanda,” he said. “This transformation highlights the importance of providing alternative income-generating opportunities for communities previously dependent on wetland resources, with beekeeping emerging as a promising enterprise that links biodiversity conservation with local economic empowerment.” ALSO READ: Fishing to feature in five Kigali wetlands after rehabilitation Kambogo said the initiative could provide lessons for urban wetland conservation by demonstrating that restoration can go beyond rehabilitating damaged ecosystems to creating new economic relationships between communities and nature. “Restoration is not only about recovering damaged ecosystems; it is also about building new relationships between people and nature,” he said. “By combining restored vegetation, pollinator conservation, practical skills and community enterprise, Nyandungu Eco-Park is creating a pathway through which local communities can benefit from conservation while contributing to its long-term sustainability.” He said the model could help reduce pressure on sensitive ecosystems, strengthen women’s economic participation and encourage communities to become stewards of natural resources. ALSO READ: Over 6,500 activities evicted from Kigali City wetlands. What next? What next? Rwanda’s annual honey production stood at 7,000 tonnes as of August 2024, below the target of 8,611 tonnes set under the fourth Strategic Plan for Agriculture Transformation (PSTA4). More investment opportunities at Nyandungu The honey venture forms part of broader efforts to explore revenue-generating activities at Nyandungu Eco-Park while preserving its ecological character. The park welcomed 111,710 visitors in 2025, up from 76,754 in 2024. Several projects have been identified as potential opportunities for private investment. Among them is a proposed 16- to 24-room eco-lodge or a cluster of eco-cabins that could be developed without compromising the park’s natural environment. The accommodation facilities would use sustainable materials and renewable energy. A restaurant serving locally sourced, farm-to-fork meals has also been proposed to enhance the visitor experience, while the park’s natural resources could support a wellness centre incorporating indigenous herbs. Kambogo said recreational activities could also be expanded beyond the cycling and running already taking place along the park’s trails. Potential additions include outdoor fitness stations, team-building facilities, nature obstacle courses, calisthenics areas, volleyball, basketball and mini-football facilities. Such facilities, he said, could attract families, schools, corporate groups and tourists while creating additional year-round revenue opportunities. ALSO READ: Nyandungu Eco-Park recorded over 76,000 visitors in 2024 The park is also considering introducing fly-fishing, which could allow visitors to catch fish and have their catch prepared as a meal. Fly-fishing involves the use of lightweight artificial flies designed to imitate insects and other prey naturally eaten by fish. Kambogo said the activity could offer a distinctive recreational experience in urban Rwanda. The park could also host weddings and other events beneath its mature tree canopy, providing another potential revenue stream while taking advantage of the landscape created through ecological restoration.
