BEEKEEPING
&
DEVELOPMENT 88
WORLD SEED PROGRAMME 1996 The New Forest Project provides packets of tree seeds, technical information and training materials free of charge to groups world-wide interested in starting reforestation projects with fast-growing, nitrogen fixing trees. Available for immediate distribution are high quality seeds of Cajanus cajan
(pigeon pea), Leucaena
(ipil-ipil), Gliricidia
lecocephala
(madre de cacao), Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust) and Prosopis sepim
juliflora (mesquite).
For more information or to receive the reforestation packet, write to:
The New Forests Project, 731 Eighth Street SE, Washington DC 2003, USA Fax: (202) 546 4784 Please include an environmental
description of your area, including
elevation, average annual rainfall, length of rainy and dry seasons, high and low temperatures, soil
NEWS AROUND GHANA
plant extracts to subdue African honeybees. The workshop was attended by four research scientists from the University of Science and Technology, Kumasi and ten members of the Ghana Beekeepers’ Association. Dr Yeboah-Gyan, leader of the research team, outlined components of the participatory approach. Discussions centred around the use of extracts from the local climbing plant
“Bekyem”, Adenia cissampeloides for subduing honeybees. Traditional beekeepers in the Central Region use volatile substances from the vines of the woody climber in subduing bees during honey harvest (for references see: B&D 8, March 1986; B&D 11, November 1987).
At the end of the discussions the Committee agreed: @
characteristics, and the purpose of the tree
planting (fuelwood, lumber,
forage, soil conservation, soil
enhancement).
@
Extraction methods for volatile substances should be simple and appropriate to local beekeepers;
Application methods should be simple enough to be easily adopted by beekeepers.
Kwame Aidoo,
APICULTURE SANS FRONTIERES is a non-profit making association promoting beekeeping in developing countries. ASF also undertakes
the supervision of projects. This summer ASF is organising courses on
KENYA Beekeeping at Egerton University Apiculture is taught within the Department of Animal Science to students on the BSc in Animal Production Programme. The Course comprises 30 lecture hours and 15 practical hours. Other students within the Faculty of Agriculture take apiculture as one of the subjects on the “Non-Ruminant Production Course”.
from 1-20 July 1996 at the
Stephen Kagio, Lecturer in Apiculture
For more information write
to
Apiculture sans Frontiéres, c/o Dr Bierna Michel, Rue Franche 24 7020 Nimy, Belgium Tel: 32 65 31 74 94 Fax: 32 65 36 11 06
NEPAL Min Bahadur Rana is a resourceful man. After experimenting with keeping bees using traditional hives he found he could not get the honey out of the hive without destroying the comb. Only a very small honey harvest was possible which did not give income.
the Burtibang Community Health Programme (BCHP) announced a beekeeping training course. Min was first to enrol. He In 1993
learnt many aspects of beekeeping and visited a nearby farmer with several successful hives. At the end of the course he invested his
meagre savings in a frame hive offered at a subsidised rate. Within a year his honey yield rose to 10 kg and he was able to produce better quality honey. After the initial set up costs the hives cost nothing to run. Min’s major problem was honey extraction. The equipment was only available in Kathmandu. But BCHP came to his aid with the free loan of an extractor. Min has now learnt to make his own hives using local soft wood. He is the employer of two neighbouring farmers to keep up with village demand and is the BCHP’s
honey supplier. Min buys his veils from a local tailor and his next project is to develop his own locally made extractor. Source:
Correspondent in Ghana
All students in the Faculty undergo about 14 hours of general beekeeping practice during their introduction to farming procedures.
Courses are in French
SIX
B&D's
General, Tropical and Subtropical Beekeeping Beekeeping Centre, Mons, Belgium
D
Participatory research to control African honeybees - scientists and beekeepers meet A one-day research workshop was organised in Kumasi to examine the possibilities of using
Today Nepal, August 1995
UNITED KINGDOM The (inter)National Honey Show For a long time overseas beekeepers have been visiting and showing their products at the best honey show in the world, held at tk end of November. Beekeepers from Trinidad and Tobago exhibit regularly. Someone with business acumen persuaded the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to sponsor transport of honey to the United Kingdom, with the result that they have won prizes, including the prestigious and toughest class of 24 jars of any kind of honey. This class is Open to the World; honey needs to be very good to win! Irish beekeepers have also taken First Prizes at the Show, setting up a great friendly rivalry between them and English beekeepers. It is great advantage for a country to have a presence at the National: promotion of tourism and conferences is one valuable spin off. For individuals who go, the best experience is meeting other beekeepers, exchanging ideas, learning from the lectures and seeing the vast range of top grade exhibits. There is usually a stand with demonstrations of do-it-yourself, a
A Bees for Development publication
