Reviving Hope and Honey in Simbo
On Simbo, a remote island in Solomon Islands’ Western Province, the sweet hum of bees once symbolised hope and prosperity.
For Hellen Martin, a resilient woman from Lengana village, beekeeping was more than a livelihood. “Bees and honey were a significant income earner for my family,” she shares. “With the money I made from honey production, I was able to send all four of my children to school, something I never had the chance to do.”
But that dream came to an abrupt halt in 2020 when Asian bees (Apis cerana) invaded Simbo, bringing with them the devastating varroa mite. Local bee colonies were wiped out, and Simbo’s once-thriving honey industry collapsed almost overnight.
“I lost all my bees and the income that came from them,” Helen recalls. The situation worsened when her husband passed away suddenly, leaving her to support the family on her own. “The future looked bleak, and the weight of my responsibilities grew heavier by the day.”
Helen believed her beekeeping days were behind her until a second chance arrived.
In 2024, through support from the Australia and New Zealand-funded Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access Plus Program (PHAMA Plus), Hellen and other women in Simbo began to revive their dreams of honey production. In partnership with Gizo Women in Business (GWIB), PHAMA Plus has helped reintroduce 20 new bee colonies, sourced from the Ulawa Islands in Makira Province.
As these colonies grow stronger and become established, they will be split and distributed among community members, enabling them to start their hives. This initiative aims to revitalise the local beekeeping industry and revive income-generating opportunities for families on Simbo.
“I’m so grateful,” Hellen says. “Bee farming gives us a vital source of income again. It helps us rebuild our homes, communities, churches, and, more importantly, it means we can send our children to school without feeling hopeless about how we’ll pay their fees.”
Helen isn’t alone in this journey. Rachel Nogo, another beekeeper from Simbo, shares a similar story.
She recently joined a beekeeping and honey production training held in Lengana village in April, led by PHAMA Plus consultant Kennedy Roga. The training covered essential beekeeping skills from understanding hive components and honey production to identifying and managing varroa mite infestations, including Integrated Pest Management techniques. Participants also learned advanced techniques, including queen grafting and hive splitting.
“I learned so much,” Rachel says. “Now it’s about applying what we’ve learned and taking better care of our hives.”
Held at Centenary Hall in Lengana, with practical sessions nearby in the local apiary, the training brought together participants from surrounding villages, many of whom walked or travelled by boat each day to attend.
Beyond technical skills, the training has fostered solidarity and a renewed sense of purpose among women on Simbo.
“This income helps us meet our daily needs and send our children to school,” Rachel notes. “We, as rural women, will keep working together to protect and sustain our honey industry.”
As the training wrapped up, the gratitude was clear. “Thank you so much for supporting us,” Rachel said, her words echoing the determination and collective hope of Simbo’s women.
The road ahead won’t be easy. But with unity, new skills, and the backing of PHAMA Plus and GWIB, a second chance at bee farming is already taking root, buzzing with hope.
For more information please contact: Theresa Fox, Communications and Knowledge Manager on t.fox@phamaplus.com.au