Climate change has made droughts ever more frequent and severe in many parts of the world. For many small-scale forest and farm producers, this has made it harder to find enough pasture for their animals to graze on. In northern Tanzania, Maasai families have struggled as their main source of income has dwindled.

With the support of FAO’s Forest and Farm Facility, a local network of smallholder farmers and pastoralists, called MVIWAARUSHA, is helping Maasai men and women become beekeepers to survive the tough times.

MVIWAARUSHA has provided equipment and training in beekeeping techniques adjusted to their environment and, crucially, it has taught them to be savvy businesspeople. They produce, label and brand their products to maximise value, and combine forces with other beekeepers to access new markets.