News

BANGLADESH

MUS (Monchas Unnayan Sangstha) is a voluntary organisation for deprived people. One of their activities is promoting beekeeping The honeybees in Bangladesh are the Asian hive bee Apis cerana, but recently Thai sacbrood virus has led to the loss of many honeybee colonies.

Abul Hossain.

LIBYA

Honey has always been special in Libya: considered a remedy for many illnesses. Until a few years ago the State Agriculture Bank subsidised up to 50% of the initial costs for anyone who wanted to start beekeeping. This policy encouraged many farmers and individuals to start beekeeping.

I estimate that there are now more than 2000 beekeepers around the country Most are members of the five associations located in different regions, and the State still encourages beekeeping by other means.

Almost all colonies are kept in Langstroth movable-frame hives. These used to be imported from Germany or Italy. Other equipment is still imported from Europe. Sometimes queens are imported from Italy and Australia with other materials, but since last year we cannot import due to the air transport restrictions imposed on our country, which led to a very critical situation, and many beekeepers expect great losses.

A A Zawi.

MIDDLE EAST

Announcing the Arabic Beekeepers’ Union!

After six years and more than 300 letters, a meeting in Cairo in February 1994 of beekeeping representatives from all Arabic countries agreed with the findings of Dr Yahya Bakkour, Director-General of The Arabic Organisation for Agricultural Development, and the Arabic Beekeepers’ Union was born!

The aim of the Union is to protect the interests of Arabic beekeepers, and to exchange knowledge and products between them through congresses and exhibitions. These are planned to be held annually in various countries.

Rashid Yazbek, Vice-President, Arabic Beekeepers’ Union.

CAMEROON

The North West Beefarmers’ Association has a membership of 625 people In November last year they organised a Workshop in Bamenda to teach beekeeping skills: finance for the Workshop was provided by HELVETAS. The Workshop had 58 participants who took part in field work and discussions to identify the main problems faced by bee farmers in this part of West Africa.

A survey of participants revealed that all together they owned 1392 hives: 82% Oku cylindrical hives (the local style of hive), 12% top-bar hives (bamboo and wood) and 6% other types (pots, tins, boxes). It was stated that 50-75% of the hives are occupied by bees at any time For most beekeepers, even those with 200 hives or more, beekeeping is an important but still side-line activity Nearly 50% indicated that honey is disposed of (eaten or sold) in their own villages in its raw state ie without any processing.

Mzeka Paul, North West Beefarmers’ Association.