Bees for Development Journal 103
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KYRGYZSTAN Working with local partner, Rural Development Fund (RDF), Bees for Development has successfully secured funding from the UK Darwin Initiative for the Project Equitable Access to Pasture Use for Beekeepers in Kyrgyz Republic. Kyrgyz honey is produced in the herb rich mountain pastures which bloom from May to mid-August – following sub-zero winters. Yet beekeeping is declining as conflict with livestock herders over access to the pastures is exacerbated by population growth and pressure on these unique ecosystems. With support from The Darwin Initiative, BfD and partners RDF and the Kyrgyz Association of Beekeepers, are working to improve public understanding of the value of honey bees and their pollination services, to promote beekeeping as a sustainable and environmentally beneficial livelihood for young herders in the northern pastures of Chon-Kemin, and to ensure that beekeepers’ rights to access and use of pastures are recognised. Umut Zholdoshova from RDF says: “It is encouraging that the project is supported by the Darwin Initiative. The project is very timely in the light of the Pasture Legislation Reform in the Republic. Pastures are important not only for the herders, but also for the secondary users including beekeepers and collectors of herbs and berries. By promoting the interests of beekeepers we hope to achieve equitable access to, and sustainable use of pasture resources, and contribute to poverty reduction in rural communities of Chon-Kemin Valley. RDF will train beekeepers in GIS mapping to record their migratory routes through the summer pastures, and young herders will be trained in beekeeping and supported in startup through a small grants programme. Focus groups with herders and beekeepers will feed into discussion of pasture management at the local pasture users’ union. And at national level, we will lobby for an amendment recognising beekeepers as secondary pasture users through reform to the Pasture Law”.
Herb-rich mountain pastures bloom from May to mid-August
Kyrgyz beekeepers move their colonies to high altitude pastures in summer
LETTERS
scorching. However some types of wood have a strong smell which is repellent to bees. Bees show preferences concerning the orientation of the hive entrance to the sun, and in a tropical environment a shady position for hives is essential. More on baiting hives at www.beesfordevelopment.org/portal
Baiting hives I am a beekeeper in Nigeria with 38 top-bar hives and two frame hives. My challenge is that the bees often abscond from some of my hives. Three weeks ago I placed 15 hives in the forest but so far these have not been colonised by bees. Kindly advise. Kujore Oludotun, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State BfD replies: It can be sometimes difficult to get new hives occupied. Hives that have previously been used by bees are more attractive because they will contain the residual scents of previous occupants. Bees are attracted by beeswax so rub some inside new hives, and fresh starter strips of beeswax on the underside of topbars in top-bar hives will serve as an attractant. Herbs can be used to bait hives, in particular those with a citrus scent such as bee balm, lemon grass and verbena. Among other attractants, people have used urine (not very appealing, but attractive to bees because of the salts it contains), palm wine, fermented banana skins (both sweet and sticky), paste made from peanuts, or cassava powder (a protein source). Substances that bees need such as sugar syrup will attract them but be careful that you do not also attract unwanted pests. When hives are scorched using flames to disinfect them, the scorched wood has been shown to be of interest to bees, possibly because of the minerals that have been made available by the
Request for help As Tanganyika Christian Refugee Service we are working with marginalised, vulnerable and displaced people in 15 villages in Morogoro Region, western Tanzania. Beekeeping is growing incredibly fast as the best income-generator out of all of our agricultural activities. How can we get support from your organisation? Nguno Chugga, Field Officer Morogoro Empowerment Project BfD replies: We can help by providing you with information and resources for training. On our website: • Our Information Portal provides reports, articles and many pages of practical information; • Use the Network Centre to get in touch with others - in your country or beyond; • Fill in the form for a sponsored subscription to this Journal (see page 16); • Apply to receive a sponsored Resource Box full of useful training materials. 10
