Bees for Development Journal 111
NEWS AROUND THE WORLD Fiji Beekeepers Association continues to face challenges including honey shortages and disease-related threats. In Fiji Crop and Livestock Council Newsletter, Association President John Lewis said: ”Last year’s production was affected by the weather with yields lower than expected and these pushed farm-gate prices up to the highest so far. It is consumers who are punished because low yields result in lack of honey on shop shelves, with stiff competition continuing from sugar and jam products. There are disease-related threats facing the industry with American Foulbrood having a major impact on some of the Ba beekeepers in 2013. Early detection and prompt response to the danger is key to addressing the issues. Varroa is present in Tonga and Vanuatu. If the mite is found in Fiji, hive management techniques will become more expensive and complex. A Varroa response plan has been drafted”. Source: Fiji Times Online
PHOTO © AKANDE AYOADE
NIGERIA
Jorafarm & Associates would like to thank BfD Trust for their usual support and assistance rendered to our organisation and beneficiaries. The community of Owode Ede, Osun State send their greetings for providing journals and for impacting us with knowledge to be shared. This photograph was taken during recent training. PHOTO © YAU S BAKI
Akande Ayoade, Osun State
SLOVENIA PHOTO © FRANC ŠIVIC
FIJI
Honey for breakfast European Honey Breakfast Every year on the third Friday of November Slovenian beekeepers organise an educational and promotional campaign for preschool and school children – The Honey Breakfast. The campaign has been carried out by regional associations and the Slovenian Beekeepers’ Association (SBA) since 2007. Preschool and school children are treated to a breakfast of Slovenian honey donated by beekeepers. Each year an educational publication on the topic of beekeeping is issued to the children. The Honey Breakfast is attended also by mayors, state officials, athletes and heads of other nursery and primary schools. Presentations and workshops on beekeeping are given. The Honey Breakfast is supported by national and regional TV networks, radio stations and newspapers that report on this event to help raise public awareness of the importance of beekeeping. Why did beekeepers unite to organise this campaign? We are aware that most habits are formed in childhood and it is therefore necessary to begin teaching children about the importance of caring for the environment and nature as early as possible. The results of the campaign indicate that we have been successful: since children, teachers and the public have shown a positive attitude to bees and nature, the number of children participating in beekeeping clubs at schools is growing, and the sales and consumption of honey and other bee products have increased. The SBA presented the idea to the Slovenian Minister of Agriculture & Environment and to representatives of Apimondia. The next step was to inform all European Ministers of Agriculture at the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting in Brussels in March, and so far the European Honey Breakfast Initiative has been backed by every Minister to whom it has been presented. It is now the turn of European Beekeeping Organisations to respond and take action. The SBA has invited representatives to attend the 3rd International Beekeeping Conference in November. During the two-day Conference we will discuss the activities of beekeeping organisations in relation to the young. We know that the best way to transfer knowledge and good practices to others is by providing them with first-hand experience. Those who attend the Conference will have the opportunity to take part in a Slovenian honey breakfast so that they can share their experience and implement similar practices in their own country.
I organise 43 local associations and we have now formed the Beekeepers Association of Sokoto State.
For the European Honey Breakfast to be successfully realised, all the above-mentioned parties will have to work together. We want the European Honey Breakfast to be supported by all beekeeping associations and we hope to see the First Pan-European Honey Breakfast take place on Friday 21 November 2015. Together we will raise people’s awareness of the importance of the conservation of nature and bees to secure good sources of food and ensure a better, healthier life for everyone.
Yau S Baki, State Secretary, Sokoto
Lidija Senič, Head: Public Extension Service on Beekeeping, Slovenia 12
