News

BOSNIA

Before the conflict, there was an active beekeepers’ association in the area of Begov Han in the Zenica-Doboj Canton. There are now 16 association members in Begov Han, but they are unable to restart honey production except on a very small-scale, because most of their hives were destroyed; of the 1,039 formerly owned by members of the association, 42 are left. The 16 core members of the beekeepers’ association have the necessary skills to build hives, to produce, process and market the honey, and to instruct other community members in all aspects of beekeeping, but need assistance with purchasing materials and new colonies of bees. World Vision UK is providing the necessary financial support.

World Vision is also carrying out relief distributions in five areas of the Zenica Canton to particularly vulnerable sectors of the population such as the handicapped, war disabled and single mothers. These distributions currently benefit approximately 25,000 people. Supplies are largely obtained externally at present, but it is desirable to source them in-country wherever possible, both for cost-effectiveness and to stimulate the local economy. World Vision will purchase the first season's honey production from the beekeepers and use it to substitute for part of the imported sugar now included in relief distributions.

The beekeeping season in Bosnia begins in the second half of April. The main production of honey will be in May, ending in July/August. This will be processed and distributed as relief supplies by the end of September 1995.

CAMEROON

in 1991 the Limbe Project Forest Conservation Programme started training 20 beekeepers from villages in South West Province. Due to popular demand this training was followed up with three more courses in three different villages the following year. Participation was strictly limited to residents of host villages which ensured the participants were interested to learn. On average about ten people were trained in each village and most have continued with beekeeping.

The first organised honey harvest was in 1992, year after training began, with yield of 76 kg of honey. At this time we had 41 beekeepers and 66 active hives. By March 1993 179 kg of honey were harvested by 48 beekeepers from 34 hives. A further 50 hives were unoccupied. Since the programme started we have constructed 112 hives, although 28 are not yet in use due to a lack of top-bars.

The Project is simply helping people who are interested to produce honey. The honey belongs entirely to the beekeepers. Mount Cameroon Echo, 1994

INDIA

The First National Honey Festival was held in October 1994 in New Delhi, organised by the National Horticultural Board of the Ministry of Agriculture.

The Festival was arranged to encourage the use honey as food and therefore boost honey sales and beekeeping.

It was an opportunity for beekeepers, honey packers and sellers to exchange ideas, and was well attended. A one-day Workshop was also arranged to inaugurate various schemes to promote beekeeping.

Honey is mainly used as a medicine in India with per capita annual consumption as low as 8.4g, compared with 1200g in wealthy countries.

The Central Bee Research and Training Institute has pioneered beekeeping in India. At the Festival its stand won first prize and its honey was chosen as top in the class.

O P Chaudhary, Director, Central Bee Research and Training Institute

KENYA

The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology in Nairobi has included beekeeping in its research programme.

The Centre’s Director, Dr Hans Herren is interested in providing assistance which will create income for small-scale activities including beekeeping. Initially research will be done on honey production and honeybee diseases in Africa. Studies will be carried out on honey flora and the post-harvest treatment of honey. Dr Herren hopes to integrate beekeeping into agroforestry farming systems.

Source: Spore 55 (1995)

TANZANIA

A tough time

1994 was poor year for honey production at Tabora. The estimated harvest of 360 tonnes could not be harvested due to lack of rain many colonies absconded and thousands of bee hives were left empty. In this major honey- producing region less than tonne of honey was harvested.

In September 1994 there was a Fair Trade Fair in Dar-es-Salaam where buyers from Europe and producers from Tanzania met and exchanged views. The major issue was the failure of producers to supply commodities to buyers in Europe. Indeed our Co-operative Society was in this position. The situation cannot be changed easily however, because we rely on nature to make the trees blossom and the worker bees to do their hard work to collect nectar.

The 1995 season will hopefully reward beekeepers for their hard work. There has been good rainfall since the start of the rainy season in November. Every beekeeper is hoping a for better harvest in June.

We hope that this year our dreams turn positive. We will be able to gather a lot of high-quality honey for the market in Europe and other parts of the world.

Our motto is: NO MONEY NO HONEY! (and vice versa!)

Justin Madaha B&D’S CORRESPONDENT IN TANZANIA