Bees for Development Journal 108
introduce them to beekeeping towards becoming self reliant in the absence of a job after their one year compulsory youth service. The introductory session was presented by Abraham Abado who I trained last year. Abraham won the state award as best batch B corp and was able to establish two colonies in his home apiary in Benue State. We introduced participants to the benefits of keeping bees using the Ten Good Reasons poster (one of several resources we received from BfD). Participants: • underwent a field exercise to identify bee loving plants followed by preparation of a flowering calendar • were advised on keeping bees in hives, setting up an apiary, and observing and working safely with bees • watched practical demonstrations using top-bar and frame hives from Amachi Farms and other beekeeping equipment including smokers and protective clothing • attended lectures on the value, packaging and uses of honey and storing and selling beeswax. At the end of the course every participant received a copy of BfDJ. Mike Ukattah, Head of Apiculture Unit, Amachi Farms, Abia State
Youths are regularly trained in beekeeping to assist them to move away from unemployment and poverty. This has proved to be an effective tool as more youths are getting involved. Jorafarm and Associates is a beekeeping non-profit organisation aimed at improving lives of young people. Ayoade Akande, Jorafarm and Associates, Gbongan, Osun State
ST LUCIA Thank you we received the BfD Resource Box for the start of our training. The programme will help existing beekeepers increase their productivity and expand their apiaries. We will train ten women and ten young people. Afterwards trainees will
receive five hives each. Thereafter all new members of the co-operative will be trained and receive hives at start up. Patricia Anthia Joshua, Agri-Enterprise Development Section, Ministry of Agriculture, Food Production, Fisheries & Rural Development, Castries
TOM SEELEY AT APIMONDIA CONGRESS On Wednesday 2 October in Kiev at the Apimondia International Apicultural Congress, Tom Seeley is giving the Keynote Lecture in the Plenary Session of Apimondia’s Scientific Commission Beekeeping for Rural Development. The title of his lecture is Honey bees in the wild. In this paper, he will compare the ecologies and life styles of free-living and managed colonies, and discuss lessons we can learn from knowing how honey bees are living successfully in the wild – as we strive to develop systems of beekeeping that are profitable and sustainable. As a Patron of BfD Trust, Tom Seeley will attend the Trust Reception on 2 October. Supporters of BfD Trust attending the Congress are welcome. Please contact BfD for details Honeybee democracy by Tom Seeley is available for purchase at www.beesfordevelopment.org/catalog 15
