News

INDIA

Low-cost, natural beekeeping is something that I am interested in, and I thank you for sending your informative magazine. I have found many similarities between India and Africa. We work with indigenous honey bees Apis cerana. In January we donated bee hives to a women’s self-help group in Goa. The group had ventured into strawberry farming and were facing issues for pollination.

Our organisation, M/s Raika & Co (a social enterprise) visited the farm and educated everyone about the importance of bees and pollination for local farmers. To date we have trained over 500 farmers, tribal groups and students in Goa region. Our goal is to create awareness about beekeeping and to educate people about the importance of honey bees for our ecosystem.

Our organisation gives back 10% of annual sales to charity under the Suprajit Raikar (right) donating bee hives to the Goa self-help group Bees for Sustainable Development Programme. For more information regarding our work visit www. facebook.com/pg/raikastore

Suprajit Raikar, M/s Raika & Co, Goa

Throughout 2020, Slow Food will organise activities to promote the ECI and raise awareness of the alarming decline of bees, with the biggest event taking place in April in Italy on Slow Food Day 2020. If the ECI “Save Bees and Farmers” gathers one million signatures by September 2020, the EU Commission and Parliament must consider turning the campaign’s demands into law. There are 90 organisations from 17 EU countries taking part in the campaign so far. Sign the Petition at www.slowfood.com/save-bees-farmers

© Image Archivo Slow Food

MALAWI

During our training day in March 2019 the message was Plant a Tree for Bees for a Sustainable Living. The group worked with secondary school students who are a vulnerable group more especially after finishing their studies as employment and further education opportunities are currently very competitive. A route to start living sustainably is to plant trees for bees so that at the end of a short period benefits are enjoyed through bee products unlike cutting down the trees for a living! The project was welcomed by all students.

Patrick Chinkota, Nasuluma Penta-Na Group, Blantyre

Plant a Tree for Bees!

Here the hives are made from waste plastic material

UGANDA

Thanks for sending a Resource Box and enabling us to learn more. In January we held a training course to help some of our beekeepers who are reluctant to open hives and harvest honey for fear of being stung. Our Chairperson told participants that it is important to monitor their hives so that the bees become accustomed to beekeepers being in their vicinity. It is important to have reliable equipment including good boots, a protective suit and gloves, and a good smoker, knife, bucket and a torch. He encouraged them that they may be slow to begin with at opening hives, however when they become more confident and experienced, they will be able to work more quickly.

Khasufa Kntosi Silver, Secretary Trauma Healing Childcare and Community Development, Mbale

TURKEY

I have supported some young people in a small village in the Kurdish part Eastern Turkey who have set up a small beekeeping project which has been going for a year. For it to become more sustainable there is a need for further investment which I am not able to provide.

The project supports unemployed and underprivileged young people to set up their own business and become self-reliant. The Kurdish region of Dersim experienced much turmoil throughout the 1980-1990s. Numerous villages were totally evacuated leaving them desolate for years. Supporting young people to set up sustainable businesses will encourage them to return home and continue with the historical local tradition of looking after the environment. The area produces 100% organic produce and is home to some of the most unique flora and fauna. By supporting these small projects, you will be empowering young people to take control of their futures.

I am, on behalf of the project, looking for external funding to help further develop this project. I would be grateful for any support.

San Seni

If you can help, please contact San Seni via Bees for Development

Participants on the ‘Fearless beekeeping’ course, in Uganda. Projects and associations in developing countries are welcome to apply for a Sponsored Resource Box

© Photos Trauma