News

BANGLADESH

A two day Beekeeping & Development training programme was held in March in Bangladesh. The programme was organised by Abu Bakar Siddique and chaired by Dr Mokarram Hossain of the Bee Research. and Development Institute Professor Azadur Rahman was the chief speaker

INDIA

Neem - a safer insecticide?

The safety of neem (Azadirachta indica) for honey bees is being established at the Coconut Research Station, Veppankulam in India. The efficacy of neem derivatives against the various major pests of coconut palm has already been proved However the safety of neem derivatives to the pollinating honey bees Apis cerana, Apis florea and also the stingless bee Melipona iridipennis has not been explored.

For this reason sprays with neem oil at concentrations of 6% and 3%, neem seed extracts at 10% and 5% and neem seed kernel extracts at 10% and 5%, were given to newly opened coconut spathes, and spathes having receptive female flowers (buttons) with nectar, in the crown of individual palms We used a hand operated, high volume sprayer during the late evening. Observations at 0800 and 0900 hours on the next and subsequent days revealed that the neem sprays did not deter the normal visits of the three bee species to the treated palms.

Source. S Sadakathulla

NEVIS

In the early hours of 2 February 1993, for reasons not yet entirely clear, the beehouse caught fire. The Nevis Fire Brigade and the Police did what they could, but the beehouse was gutted and all the equipment lost, including all the extracting equipment.

Appeal

Nevis Beekeepers’ Co-operative have launched an Appeal in an effort to get their beehouse re-established and to renew the extraction of honey and the candle making. The stone structure was undamaged by the heat and it can be repaired. Cost of the repair work is estimated in the region of $10,000. The government is to help with this Candle making and straining equipment will cost $1000. The cost of replacing the extracting equipment is estimated at $3000 This is needed urgently as the honey will need extracting soon.

Your assistance would be greatly valued at this time of loss.

PERU

Farmers in the Lambayeque area of Peru have developed an IDB-financed beekeeping project from being simply a source of extra income into their principal livelihood.

Participating in the project are some 500 small-scale farmers from the valleys of La Leche, Chancay and Zafia. The farmers have been producing and exporting their honey since receiving IDB financing in 1982. Because of their success, the IDB, through Peru's National Foundation for Development, is helping to expand their activities.

Now, with 10 years of experience and new technology, and with additional financing from the IDB, the beekeepers will produce range of derivatives for use in the production of soap, shampoo, creams and even wine.

The farmers plan to expand the number of beehives by 6000 and bring in an additional 500 farmers as new beekeepers. They will then be able to produce some 500 tonnes of honey per year, or 20% of the national production. The product is marketed both domestically and abroad.

Source: Jorge Zavaleta, The IDB, January/February 1993

SRI LANKA

We are improving our activities In Monaragala District in Sri Lanka Already about 400 members in remote villages are practising low-input beekeeping methods.

Before 1975 this area was the major honey producing area of Sn Lanka Due to deforestation and the use of insecticides by multinational companies the honey bees have been badly affected. The government did not inform people how to keep bees in their own gardens.

So our duty Is to let people know how to live with bees and how to make good environment for the bees. We publish free newsletter for members, schools, libraries and social institutes in Monaragala District. Last December we held one-day seminar and workshop.

Source: S R Sunil, Co-ordinator, The Organisation for the Conservation and Protection of Bees in Sn Lanka.