News

MOZAMBIQUE

Amru is the Mozambican Association for Rural Women’s Development. It was formed in 1991.

In Changalane 45 women working in three groups of 15 undertake beekeeping activities. Beekeeping is carried out within credit scheme, where we hand over the hives and equipment and provide technical support as well as training. This project has support from AFRICARE, CIDAC and MESERIOR. With MESERIOR we are also negotiating project in agriculture, and water and environmental hygiene. This will be starting up in January.

Amélia Zambeze, Amru

KENYA

Our work at Baraka Agricultural College is progressing very well with new honey refining facility being built and about 500 kg of honey in stock. Our beekeeping courses are becoming very popular. In August we held an advanced beekeeping course which attracted 35 participants from all over Kenya, and 25 people attended an introductory course.

Tom Carroll

PHILIPPINES

BEENET Philippines, National Beekeeping Network was formally inaugurated on 15 August 1995 during the First Beekeeping Symposium and Techno-fora held in Davao City.

The BEENET Network aims to:

- Co-ordinate national research, training and extension activities;

- Promote beekeeping as a productive business operation and an important component of forest and agricultural ecosystems;

- Establish standards for bee products and equipment;

- Establish regional centres for quality evaluation of bee products, equipment and supplies;

- Introduce a national breeding programme to meet local demand for good quality queens;

- Facilitate exchange of information and resources related to beekeeping

- Formulate policies concerning foraging rights, quarantine, and pest control operations harmful to bees.

Demonstrations at the Techno-fora included disease detection, quick test for honey quality, and candle making. There were also exhibits of bee prducts and honey contest.

Dr Cleo Cervancia

ZIMBABWE

The African honeybee in August, September, October

We may be worse-tempered than normal and with little provocation we will always cause trouble. We are actively rearing our brood and cannot always collect enough forage. Towards October we will be busy collecting water to cool our hives.