News

REGIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

AFRICAN APICULTURAL ASSOCIATION

During the Apimondia Congress held in Durban in October 2001 a meeting was held and it was agreed unanimously to establish the African Apicultural Association.

The following objectives were agreed:

- The Association should address issues relating to research, training, development and dissemination of information.

- A Congress should be held at least on a biennial basis, preceding the Apimondia Congress.

- The Association should ensure that African problems and developments are placed on the international agenda.

- The Association should promote greater interaction with research institutions and development organisations elsewhere. The African Apicultural Association should also promote greater interaction between African institutions, on apiculture related issues such as pollination and biological diversity.

It was agreed that the African Apicultural Association should be affiliated to APIMONDIA. An interim Steering Committee was formed to draft a proposed constitution for circulation to all those who attended the meeting, prior to presentation at an inaugural congress for ratification. The logistics and sources of funding for this congress where a permanent management committee will be elected were also discussed.

Adriaan du Toit, President of the Interim Steering Committee, African Apicultural Association

[Ed: we will bring you updates about the progress of this new Association as information arrives at Bees for Development]

NETWORK OF CARIBBEAN BEEKEEPERS’ ASSOCIATIONS TO BE LAUNCHED

Beekeepers from around the Caribbean will converge on Jamaica in mid September for the Third Caribbean Beekeeping Congress (see page 16 for details). The First Congress was held in Tobago in 1998, followed by the Second in Nevis in 2000.

As a strategy towards deepening the process of co-operation and collaboration amongst the Caribbean beekeeping community, participants at the Nevis Congress unanimously adopted a Resolution committing to the institutionalisation of Caribbean beekeeping. Participants also endorsed the setting up of a Steering Committee comprising representatives from Tobago, Nevis and Jamaica to spearhead the institutionalisation process.

The Committee's report will be submitted at the Third Congress and will include amongst its recommendations the establishment of a Network of Caribbean Beekeepers’ Associations and a framework for its operation.

Gladstone Solomon BfD’s Correspondent in Tobago

See also AAA on pages 4 and 5

SURINAME

I send greetings from the beating heart of the Amazon. In February a project in La Poule, Saramacca District to train 15 men and 5 women in top-bar hive beekeeping and honey harvesting. I chose top-bar hives because of their low production cost. The EU provided a grant for 75% of the costs and I had to raise 25% myself.

I also have sad news. I discovered Varroa sp in the hives — when it was believed that there was no Varroa in Suriname.

Mohamed S Khodabaks

SIERRA LEONE

We have just completed a beekeeping training course for two communities in the Freetown Peninsula Area. The Conservation Society of Sierra Leone sponsored the course. Beekeeping is a good tool to encourage people toprotect the forest where they live, and rely on for income from charcoal burning and woodcutting.

Abu Ansumana

APIMONDIA

APIMONDIA is the world Federation of Beekeepers’ Associations. APIMONDIA represents the interests of beekeepers worldwide, and organises a major international congress every second year. One benefit of your association belonging to APIMONDIA is that all members of your association then become eligible for reduced registration fees for APIMONDIA Congresses.

A Membership form and further details are at www.apimondia.org

CAMEROON

Mokenge Tobias (centre) explains the use of top-bars in the catcher hive produced by the group he is training. Front left is the youngest bee farmer Rallie Ndombo Mandalo “ready for action”.

ETHIOPIA

Stamps depicting traditional Ethiopian hives (published by the Ethiopian postal service) sent to Bees for Development by Mehari Yoseph who says, “This is a good initiative considering the bee resources of the country are ever declining due among other things to the high rate of deforestation and pesticide use”.

NIGERIA

USAID/Winrock International beekeeping project in Zaria

USAID provided a grant of US$ 13,500 to the Biye Beekeepers’ Society to support their project for improving beekeeping. The project started in January 2002 targeting 50 beekeepers selected from four villages. Winrock International sponsored two beekeeping volunteers, Bob Cole and Ann Harman, to visit the project in February 2002.

Movable-frame hive beekeeping was introduced to the area in the early 1960s at the Maigana Farm Service Centre (now Kaduna State Agricultural Development Project). In 1980 beekeeping became part of the diploma qualifications for agricultural extension agents and as a consequence beekeeping workshops were held in 1996, 1998, and 2002. Despite these inputs beekeeping practices on the whole remained unhelpful to the beekeepers and the bees.

Farmers were unaware of the primary importance of bees for crop pollination and the existence of bee products apart from honey. In 1996 I founded the Biye Beekeepers’ Society after receiving training as an extension worker. My objective was to carry out beekeeping extension as a community based project for rural farmers.

The financial assistance from USAID helped us to increase the awareness of farmers around Zaria. To date the Society has recorded 120 farmers attending beekeeping meetings for more information. Apitherapy and crop production packages for maximum yield are being used as extension approaches.

I appreciate the information in the Workshop Box | received from Bees for Development, which has helped me greatly with my work.

Alh Idris Zaria, President, Biye Beekeepers’ Association