BEEKEEPING DEVELOPMENT FOR POOR FARMERS»y
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In many situations “beekeeping development” means the introduction of new technology, usually new types of hives. Often people are not trying to discover the real problems of local beekeepers. Project activities should always be aimed at the identified needs of local (mostly poor, small-scale) beekeepers. Poor farmers in risk-prone environments, trying to make a living from diverse activities (. many different crops, livestock, crafts and off-farm work) face so many constraints that they can hardly ever profit from recommended The situation
is development packages. perhaps worst in sub-Saharan Africa where more than half of the population is being passed by (things are often better in places where itrigation is possible). It is about 20 years since beekeeping became a generally recognised theme in development planning. The results of these two decades of beekeeping development have been mixed. Overgeneralising a little, one could say that the best results were achieved with relatively well off, educated beekeepers, European (imported) bees, and in temperate climates. Poor farmers with vicious or otherwise “strange” bees in the least developed tropical countries often gained nothing. The fact that poor farmers are often passed by has been observed not only in beekeeping development, but in agricultural development in general. It has been realised that the usual “technology-transfer” model of development does not work with farmers who have little or no resources available to them. These farmers typically do not adopt the “solutions” suggested by experts. A lack of fit between the problems and proposed solutions, as the farmers themselves perceive them, has been identified as the major reason for nonadoption. Therefore, a development strategy for resource-poor farmers should start with the farmers’ own perception of their problems, using the knowledge and technology they already possess. One such strategy is Farming Systems Research and Development (FSR&D), in which the area and group of farmers to be reached are first defined. It is then necessary to discover what the main problems of these farmers are. Next, solutions to these problems are sought and communicated back to the farmers. If they think these solutions might work for them, they try them out on their farms. If the solutions work, they are passed on unbelievingly fast by the farmers themselves (one solution to problems with maize spread over all of Kenya in three years, without any extension effort). Maybe this new strategy sounds like common sense, but for Africa at least it is more like a revolution than a reform. The revolutionary think is that “experts” go to farmers and try to learn from them. The main point is not to find a new name for old practices, but to change ways of doing things: the resource-poor beekeeper has to be put in the centre of beekeeping development. It has to be the beekeeper who identifies problems, it has to be the beekeeper who chooses which technology should be tested, and it has to be their adoption or non-adoption that evaluates a development effort.
SOCIAL FORESTRY IN THAILAND
As recently as 1960, almost two-thirds of Thailand was covered by primary forest, but indiscriminate felling has resulted in the loss of over half of this most precious resource.
In 1980 Thailand's Royal Forestry Department, with assistance from UNDP and FAO started a pilot project aimed at restoring Thailand's depleted forests. The idea was to develop a longterm programme to meet farmers’ needs and at the same time restore forest reserves. The answer they arrived at was “Social Forestry” which focuses on people as much as trees. The 8000 Thais living on 10000 ha near Nakhon Ratchasima on the Khorat Plateau had already destroyed their forest through traditional “slash and burn” agriculture. The government is now determined to break the pattern which is much the same ail over Thailand: trees are cut, the land cover burned and crops are grown for a few years until the soil is worn out. The farmers then move on to a new forested area where the process begins again.
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At first local people were suspicious of Mr Danso (FAO chief technical advisor) and his colleagues. Before, when foresters called it usually meant they would be moved or taxed. The foresters often felt no less hostile to farmers. They saw them as uneducated lawbreakers, cutting trees and spoiling the parks that they were supposed to protect. Mr Danso and his colleagues first conducted a year-long survey to find out what the settlers of Nakhon Ratchasima wanted and what their needs were. Data was collected on their settlement patterns, their crops and their expectations for the future. It was found that most wanted to stay on the land and to farm. The survey showed that 60% of the land was suitable for agriculture, so it was decided to provide farmers with new economic opportunities and services that would encourage them to settle down permanently. The remaining 40% of the land would be reforested to prevent the erosion of steep hillsides and destruction of
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watersheds, as well as to replenish the national forest. With survey results in hand, the programme was designed: villages would be formed, trees planted, agriculture improved, roads, schools and health centres built and village councils created to make decisions in co-operation with the Forestry Department. As the farmers became more involved, Mr Danso and other FAO advisers worked with them in experimenting with new crops, such as cotton, soybeans and peanuts. Beekeeping was introduced to boost income and serve as a diet supplement. Cottage industries — sewing, weaving and furniture mak— were established, and low-cost ing kilns made from focal materials were constructed to burn wood for charcoal more efficiently. Meanwhile the Forestry Department planted pine, acacia, calliandra and paper mulberry trees on the steepest slopes. In addition, fast-growing eucalyptus trees were planted in and around the forest villages. When villagers saw trees 10 m high after only two years they asked for seedlings. Result: over 3.5 million seedlings were distributed free. Over 70 km of roads were built, making the marketing of crops easier. 19 small dams were also constructed to
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provide water during the dry season.
The variety of crops, animals and trees
insure that work is available in all seasons. Nowadays, if crops are poor of prices low, income frorn other sources is usually available. 41 farmers trained in
beekeeping currently produce 30 tonnes of honey every year from 370 bee colonies. Beekeepers have been so successful that some have saved enough money to buy cattle. After six years the results are plainly visible. Hillsides are covered with young forests. Villages resemble tree-covered parks. Most houses are surrounded with fruit trees, herbs and gardens. Nearby fields are planted in corn, cassava and cotton. The rougher terrain supports eucalyptus and acacia. “The Royal Forestry Department has undergone another fundamental transformation” says the Project Director. “Its philosophy has evolved from a tradition of conservation to emphasising sustainable forestry. Without that change it would have been difficult for foresters, who had blamed farmers for cutting trees, to work with them effectively”.
(UNDP World Development, November 1988)
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Large-scale deforestation has taken place in Tanzania, with an undocumented loss of forest estimated to be around 300 000 ha per annum. Some parts of Tanzania are already suffering from desertification. Miombo is open canopy, dry woodland particularly characterised by the tree species Julbernardia and Brachystegia, which are prolific nectar producers. Miombo is being cleared rapidly for shifting cultivation, fuelwood, grazing and permanent pasture. To reverse this trend, sustainable use of forest resources must be encouraged. Beekeeping has of course long been traditional activity in the miombo woodlands of Tanzania, and foresta dwelling people are highly skilled in this activity. As a sustainable use of forest resources, beekeeping fits well with TFAP criteria and accordingly appropriate support for beekeeping will be included in the action plan for Tanzania.
