Poverty in the rural areas of Burkina Faso is severe. Due to the negative development of the global cotton market the economic situation of Burkina Faso, a major exporter of cotton, has dramatically worsened. New agricultural opportunities are needed, in order to open up additional income sources to farmers and to ameliorate their living situation.
For these reasons, the Institute supports the local organization Wend-Puiré, which enables farmers to establish beekeeping activities by providing trainings as well as the necessary equipment. The maintenance of honey bee colonies already has a long tradition in the country. With additional professional training and financial aid for required material farmers and beekeepers are able to increase honey production as well as quality.
Wend-Puiré also functions as a cooperative which buys the honey from farmers, processes the honey and sells it within Burkina Faso and other countries of West Africa. Through its training initiatives, Wend-Puiré also helps to alphabetize the rural population. The organization reaches around 800 beekeepers all over the central region of Burkina Faso. The Institute supports Wend-Puiré actively in its endeavour to develop the European market for its products.