Women from settlement in Pantanal produce medicinal honey
In Miranda (MS), a group of women from the Associação de Produtores do Assentamento Bandeirantes (APAB) - Bandeirantes Settlement Producers Association - has gained visibility for their work in beekeeping.
Among the producers is Aparecida Krawieck, known as Dona Cida, who, along with her sister, manages a beehive with 22 hives.
APAB is part of the CerraPan network (Network of Women Producers of the Cerrado and Pantanal).
The settlement houses 63 families, who divide their activities between cattle ranching and agricultural production. Among them, six families are dedicated to honey production.
Although each family manages their own production, they gather to discuss practices and exchange experiences.
The honey produced is aroeira (Schinus terebinthifolia) honey, known for its medicinal properties.
Aroeira honey has antibiotic properties against the Helicobacter pylori bacteria, which is responsible for gastritis, ulcers, and stomach cancer.
In addition, the product has potential for the development of medications and treatments for these diseases.
Part of the honey produced has already reached international markets, with exports to Switzerland.
The journey with bees began in 2016, when the NGO Ecoa approached the association to see if there were women interested in working with beekeeping.
After that, the community received a three-month training, as well as hives, clothing, a centrifuge, decanters, and financial support to improve production.
“Until then, I didn’t know what bees were or what they did. I learned a lot,” says Cida.
The beekeeper also mentions that they have evolved with the help of the Sindicato dos Produtores Rurais de Miranda, which partners with the Rural Learning Service (Senar).
The association's production reaches two harvests per year, starting in October and November.
Depending on the climate, they can harvest up to 600 kg of honey per season.
Currently, the settlement has about 70 hives.
Between flowering periods, the bees are fed to ensure better development.
According to Cida, beekeeping represents about 50% of the income of the families involved, with the rest coming from crops and livestock.
The main challenges faced by the producers are transportation to the apiaries and the region’s climate fluctuations.
According to Nathalia Ziolkowski, director of Ecoa, giving visibility to the work of these women is crucial to strengthen production and expand access to the market, especially with the potential for international reach.
“The municipality does not have the infrastructure to handle the amount of honey produced, mainly in terms of seals and certifications that allow insertion into the formal market,” says Nathalia, adding that both the beekeepers and the NGO are seeking ways to overcome this difficulty.