News

PERU

Chicha Morado is Peruvian Spanish for violet corn, probably originating from Quechua. This is typical Peruvian juice drink made from violet corn (chicha morado).

Ingredients

250 g violet corn (or sweet corn)

skin of one pineapple

one lemon (or preferably three small green ones)

one apple

honey

cloves and or cinnamon sticks to taste

Put the corn and pineapple skin in cooking pot with 1½ litres of water and bring them to the boil. Simmer for one hour. Strain, add the lemon juice, the spices and honey to taste. Dice the apple into small cubes and add to the mixture. Cool for two hours then enjoy. Even better if resisted for one or two days!

The corn can be subsequently added to salad, soup or stew so this is very economical recipe!

Recipe given to Sabine in Germany by Maria Elea rom Peru. Sent to B&D by Jenny Bryne-Daniel

MONTSERRAT

Urgent News After our appeal in B&D42 we must report further distressing news from Cynthia Williams, President of Montserrat Beekeepers’ Association.

She has informed us that beekeepers have lost all their equipment and consequently their business following further volcanic eruptions in June.

If you would like to help donations can be sent.

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

The Tobago Apicultural Society has been active recently. Positively treated to second showing of the video African honeybees: how to handle them in top-bar hives by Bernhard Clauss. Hopefully one of our members will try the top-bar hive here in Tobago (it may well be me!). We have not had any evidence that the Africanized bees are in Tobago so far, but we are preparing just in case they get here.

Our biggest concern however is an outbreak of Varroa in Trinidad. Varroa was officially found there in July 1996. Reports are that it is widespread throughout Trinidad. Apistan strips are being used by some beekeepers.

The Society wrote to the Tobago Agricultural Division seeking to have existing legislation restricting the movement of bees between the two islands strengthened. We have distributed literature on bee disease identification and control. I would like to get good video on the subject. Any help or reference in that area would be welcomed.

Gladstone Solomon B&D’s Correspondent in Tobago

See Books to Buy for how to get your copy of “African honeybees”.

A good new book on honeybee diseases and pests is reviewed in Bookshelf, page 14.

UGANDA

Women’s Apiary

The UWA (United Women’s Apiary) is an association of industrious women owning 50 hives in an apiary in Luwero District. As means of recovering from the ravages of the 1980-1986 liberation war, these women keep bees, and refine honey and beeswax for sale and home consumption.

Reacting to the daily demand for information on beekeeping from intending beekeepers, UWA embarked on staging three-day training courses on “The Principles and Practices of Beekeeping”. The first course in January this year attracted 11 participants. Fourteen new beekeepers attended second course in March. Further courses are planned for later in 1997.

Participants pay for their accommodation, tuition and meals. This unfortunately proves to be too expensive for some interested people. It would help us if there was “good Samaritan” who could offer to meet some of the expenses so that even the very poor can take part in these important courses.

Editor: If you can help you can contact Olivia Makumbi (Chairperson), c/o Bees for Development.

UNITED KINGDOM

Bee Health Chairwoman, Jan Fletcher, was awarded an OBE medal in June 1997 for services to industry.

Recently Jan has been instrumental in clinching a contract to supply Bee Health products to Asia, part of the deal included 16 million move into the Japanese health care market.

Jan is long term believer in the benefits of natural health care. “Thanks to the qualities of propolis have stayed clear of colds and remained fit and healthy, which is vital to support my hectic schedule”, she explains.

Jan is currently involved in furthering Bee Health's interests overseas including the American, Asian and European markets.

Source: Bee Health Ltd

Need to know more about propolis? Read B&D42 page

GRENADA

Turn an old outboard motor into new honey extractor

The lack of appropriate and affordable honey extraction equipment has been identified as significant factor holding back development of beekeeping in the eastern Caribbean.

Buying honey extractor is an important step forward for any beekeeper. An imported extractor can easily cost more than the total of all other expenses small-scale beekeeper has to face in starting up

Using easily available, inexpensive or free-for-the-hauling components, the tinkering genius displayed by most beekeepers could produce hand- or power-cranked four-frame tangential extractor, capable of spinning at speed of at least 200 rpm. The main component of the hand-cranked model is the foot gear of a junked outboard engine, together with its prop-shaft which must be at least 66 cm

The crank could be fashioned in variety of styles, from an iron rod welded to the propeller stem, to more sophisticated versions. basket to contain the frame can be easily made with two identical wooden frames and 60 mm wire mesh. The basket shaft spins in floor flange mounted exactly in the centre of the bottom of metal rubbish bin or plastic drum.

A pipe is necessary to allow the extracted honey to flow out.

A simpler, more efficient extractor can also be built, spinning the basket with an electric hand drill attached to the shaft.

Jorge Murillo Yepes, B&D’s Correspondent in Grenad