A honey productivity guide and monitor for beekeepers in Uganda

Abstract

This report presents the development and implementation of a HPGM aimed at enhancing honey production among Ugandan beekeepers. Beekeeping is a significant agricultural activity in Uganda, contributing to both livelihoods and environmental sustainability. However, beekeepers face challenges such as inconsistent honey yields, limited access to modern technology, and insufficient market information. This project seeks to address these challenges by leveraging technology to monitor and analyze key aspects of honey production, including honey quantity, quality, and optimal harvest times. The system incorporates a mobile application developed using Flutter, API endpoints created with PHP (Laravel), data acquisition from hive monitoring devices using Python, and data visualization and analysis tools powered by Apache ECharts. Data collection methods include documentation review, cluster sampling, and simple random sampling, focusing on capturing hive conditions, honey yield, and geographical data. Interviews with beekeepers and TUNADO administrators provide additional insights into the challenges and needs of the beekeeping community. The HPGM aims to provide actionable insights and tools to beekeepers, enhancing their ability to make informed decisions, improve honey quality, and increase production. By integrating technology into traditional beekeeping practices, this system supports the sustainability and growth of the beekeeping industry in Uganda. The findings and recommendations from this project have the potential to significantly impact honey production, offering economic and environmental benefits to Ugandan beekeepers.