News around the World

CAMEROON

ICENECDEV has established a community library in Molyko-Buea, supported by Book Aid International UK, Bees for Development, Books for International Goodwill (Rotary Club of Parole) and Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation.

The ICENECDEV library will provide access to information for rural development organisations, schools, and many groups.

Eric Fongoh, ICENECDEV, Buea

INDIA

I work with the Naandi Foundation, an NGO based in a tribal area of Araku Valley, Andhra Pradesh. We want to create a bee sanctuary in the region. We have begun a pollinator programme which is based on the re-introduction of the indigenous Asian honey bee Apis cerana. The pilot project started in June 2012 with a group of ten farmers from five villages who trained as beekeepers. An additional goal is to train farmers’ wives who may also become beekeepers and encourage other women to do the same.

Due to deforestation the population of local bees has decreased dramatically. By catching a few swarms it is possible to increase the number of colonies to supply to future beekeepers. This will increase the population of indigenous pollinators and improve biodiversity, leading to improved pollination in the region and yield from fruit trees. In addition to the many ecological advantages, honey bees will of course produce honey, which will be a new stream of income for farmers. The world honey supply remains tight and demand for honey remains high, and therefore honey prices may once again begin to climb. Honey bees have a positive impact on tribal livelihoods and positive ecological implications.

Our project is expanding. We have not yet secured funding, but we have motivated farmers. We are planning a Pollinator Programme Workshop in September and have received a sponsored Resource Box* from BfD Trust for use. I started a blog ApiAnon to build a community for professional apiculturists and enthusiasts and to engage bee lovers from around the world: http://apicultureanonymous. wordpress.com

Christelle Ledroit, Naandi Foundation, Hyderabad

*see page 20 for information on Resource Boxes

Farmers trained by the Naandi Foundation will pass beekeeping knowledge on to others through the farmer school

PHOTO © NAANDI FOUNDATION

JAMAICA

Seventeen participants from the Mearnsville/Auldayr Community Development Committee (CDC) in Westmoreland graduated in August after a three-month Apiculture and Business Management Training Programme. The training was made possible through a JMD$ 2 million grant (US$19,700; €15,000) under the Alternative Livelihood Grant Programme of the Government of Jamaica/European Union/UNEP Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction project. Group members have formed a business, The Western Pride Bee Farmers, and their operation will be managed by the CDC. With plans to make honey collected from their apiary a brand name in the parish, they will be working to increase their bee colonies gradually from 40 to 260 in the next five years.

Co-ordinator for the project at the National Environment and Planning Agency, Nichelle Oxford, said her organisation was happy to be part of the process as the project gives climate-vulnerable communities grants to invest in sustainable livelihoods. She said that by finding new ways of earning a living and giving the heavily exhausted natural resources a break, residents would be better prepared to cope with the potential impact of climate change.

Source www.jamaica-gleaner.com

NIGERIA

From 5-12 July, 41 graduates (36 men, 5 women) from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) undertook eight days of Beekeeping Skill Acquisition Training to 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).

Mike Ukattah, back row right with Abraham Abado and the five NYSC women graduates who attended the Amachi Farms seminar. The lady centre front is Temitope from Oyo state who has been keeping bees for some time.

PHOTO © MIKE UKATTAH

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