Bees for Development Journal 109
NEWS AROUND THE WORLD AFGHANISTAN
FIJI
The good news is that beekeeping nowadays is getting more attention and many aid organisations are promoting beekeeping by providing equipment and training courses, and women are beekeeping within the walls of their homesteads.
In November 2013 honey production to date was valued at FJ$ 935,000 (US$ 500,000; €365,000). Agriculture Ministry’s National Co-ordinator for the Honey Industry, Kamal Prasad said: “Beekeepers have harvested 93.5 tonnes of honey and expect more as the peak season approaches. Out of 487 farmers, 250 are in the north and they are the main contributors to the honey industry. We expect to produce 200 tonnes of honey this year, although we still fall short of our maximum production estimate of 300 tonnes.”
Most of the honey is not processed but exported as raw honey to Pakistan due to a lack of processing and packaging organisations in Afghanistan. The honey is then processed, labelled as from Pakistan, and re-exported at a higher cost back to Afghanistan. In Afghanistan the bee population is declining due to factors including habitat loss, negative impacts of pesticides and herbicides, and 34 years of devastating war.
Mr Prasad said many factors affect honey production, first in line is the weather. Source Fijitimes.com
Unfortunately most projects in the past have focused only on honey production, neglecting the more important role of bees in pollination. As a result farmers are usually unaware of the role of bees for crop and fruit tree pollination, and for maintaining the ecosystem.
JAMAICA
The European Union (EU) has allocated JMD 1.2 million (US$ 500,000; €365,000) in grant funds for the ‘Step Up 2013 Sweet Paradise Expansion’ project now under way in Greater Brown’s Town community in the Corporate Area. The project is training 16 youths in beekeeping. It is undertaken with the guidance of the Ministry of Agriculture’s Apiary Division with the money channelled through the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF). The purpose of the project is to expand beekeeping and honey production in the area to a commercially viable level, and provide a source of income for community members. The most obvious benefit of the project is self-reliance through beekeeping, but it also aims to unify the Greater Brown’s Town community through teamwork. Loy Malcolm, JSIF’s general manager said the project is part of efforts to create more jobs: “For Jamaica’s economy to be prosperous, job creation is key while providing our
Farmers grow many crops including almonds, grapes and pomegranates, with significant quantities of apricots and figs in their orchards. Bees are vital for crops such as almonds which require cross-pollination, and honey bees significantly increase yields of apricots, figs and pomegranates. The Asian honey bee Apis cerana is kept by Afghan beekeepers. The species is found throughout Asia and across a diverse range of climatic zones including as far north as Siberia. Apis cerana is relatively tolerant of pests and diseases including mites and wasps and sustains itself when orchard crops are not blooming by foraging in the surrounding area on other flowering plants. The bee is known for its ability to survive and thrive in harsh, marginal conditions and at low temperatures; it can also colonise temperate or mountain areas with prolonged winters or cold temperatures up to altitudes of 3,500 m.
SUPPORT FOR TRAINING
Varroa mite is endemic to the region and co-evolved with the Asian honey bee which has developed biology and behaviour that controls the level of infestation. The growth of Varroa populations is restricted to the time when drone brood is present since the Varroa mite cannot reproduce in worker brood of Apis cerana.
BfD Training Booklets and Training Cards are for use by beekeeper trainers in Africa
PHOTO © TERRE DES HOMMES
Reinhard Fichtl on behalf of Terre des Hommes
Each booklet provides one day of training on one topic. The cards provide pictures and plans illustrating techniques discussed in the booklets. These are included in our Resource Boxes for training events and workshops. Projects and associations in developing countries are welcome to apply for a Sponsored Resource Box by filling out an application form on our website, or request the form by email. Projects in other areas can purchase Resource Boxes through our website store.
www.beesfordevelopment.org
In the bee yard 13
