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Clémentine Soava, mother and beekeeper committed to nature

Posted on 16 April 2025

Clémentine Soava is a mother of five and has been a member of a beekeeping group in the village of Kaday, located in the Tsiribihina mangroves, for over ten years.

She is also part of a women’s association focused on sewing and cultivating leafy greens to support their livelihoods.“I became a beekeeper to help protect our biodiversity while also supporting our families,” she explains. “In rural areas, we are especially vulnerable to environmental challenges. We received training on how to capture wild bees, recognize diseases in bee colonies, and extract and purify honey. Before, we used our hands to extract honey, now we use an extractor. For us women, the training was accessible and easy to understand, especially because this activity relies so much on cleanliness, something we’re naturally very mindful of.”

Beekeeping requires regular maintenance of the hives, especially to keep invasive vegetation at bay and ensure a healthy habitat for the bees, which is essential for good honey production. However, controlling vegetation growth during the rainy season is particularly challenging due to how quickly it spreads.“Our lives have changed over the past ten years,” says Clémentine. “Social life in the community is more harmonious, and our activity brings us financial benefits—we sell a liter of honey for 15,000 Ariary (around 3.3 USD).”The income has enabled them to purchase equipment for their beekeeping work, as well as dugout canoes. Each member also receives a share of the profits from honey sales.

Still, the journey hasn’t been without challenges. The beekeepers have had to deal with varroa mites, a parasitic species that affects adult bees, nymphs, and larvae. This infestation has been the leading cause of bee colony losses in the Tsiribihina mangroves in recent years. After the varroa outbreak, they were left with only 9 hives out of the 20 they had initially, and the honey couldn’t even be harvested.
Despite the setbacks, Clémentine and her fellow beekeepers have stayed committed to their work, which continues to be a valuable source of income and pride. They remain determined to overcome the obstacles ahead.