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SERIAL No. 389
NMA
QUESTIONNAIRE Newsletter No
11 carried a questionnaire prepared by ODA asking readers to assess the usefulness of the Newsletter and the Information Service provided by IBRA to beekeepers in developing countries. Grateful thanks are due to all our readers who returned these questionnaires: in response to your positive replies ODA intend to continue funding the Service we provide. Analysis of the completed questionnaires gave encouraging feedback: 65% of respondents claim to have been prompted into action as a result of the Newsletter, and 90% expressed satisfaction with the response of IBRA to their enquiries. Respondents identified lack of information on bee management as the major problem facing beekeeping development. The management of tropical bees is poorly understood and tried and tested methods to prevent absconding and swarming are yet to be established. I would urge those of you who have developed methods that work for you in the field to write them up: in this way your information can be shared with others and tested by them. The majority of readers regarded the main use of Newsletter to be as a source of practical information on beekeeping. Details about projects and of relevant publications were also considered important aspects. It was good to note how many of you pass on your copy of the Newsletter to other beekeepers: one enthusiastic respondent reckoned that his copy was read by 5000 other people! Many requested that the Newsletter be published more frequently, with larger issues, and in a variety of languages. Our resources are already stretched to provide the current service, but rest assured that I have read all your comments and will endeavour to take them into consideration in preparation offuture Newsletters.
This Newsletter is edited by Dr Nicola Bradbear with assistance from Helen Jackson, at the International Bee Research Association. Two editions of the Newsletter are published each year and are distributed free of charge to those in developing countries involved with beekeeping. Vour contributions for the Newsletter are welcome; if you have a good idea then why not share it with others? Views expressed in this Newsletter are not necessarily those of the Editor: write and let us know your opinions. If you ave involved in beekeeping development then IBRA is always interested to hear of your work. Also if you have any enquiries about beekeeping and the information you need cannot be obtained locally then write to IBRA and we will try to help you. This Newsletter and the Information Service offered by IBRA to beekeepers in developing countries is funded by the UK Overseas Development Administration. If you know of another beekeeper who would benefit from access to this Newsletter or the information service provided by IBRA then his/her name can be added to our mailing list if they write to us. If your address has changed then please return the mailing label together with your new address.
Dr Nicola Bradbear, Advisory Officer for Tropical Apiculture, IBRA, 18 North Road, Cardiff CF1 3DV, UK
No longer involved with beekeeping development? Then please let us know so that we can delete your name from our mailing list. Our resources are precious and we cannot afford to waste them.