News

AFGHANISTAN

In Konar Province a US Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) and the Afghan Government are implementing beekeeping as a solution to help feed its people. The Department of Agriculture has a number of hives throughout Konar Valley, and plans to expand by multiplying bee colonies, building more hives and distributing them among more farmers. With assistance from Konar PRT and the US Department of Agriculture, the Afghan Government distributed 170 kg of sugar to local beekeepers to feed their bees and help increase the bee population. Crop yields in the immediate area are anticipated to increase by 10% or more. Bee products are available for the Afghan people to trade and barter. Honey is especially valuable in this environment because it is one of the few agricultural products that does not need refrigerated storage. Honey can be consumed, sold, or exported to nearby provinces. Beeswax is also a valuable commercial commodity and a component of candles, cosmetics, polishes and pharmaceuticals. Afghan beekeepers hope to eventually export their products.

Release Number 20082712-03www.centcom.mil

ARGENTINA

My name is Oscar Perone Ozanan and live in Buenos Aires. | have been keeping bees since | was young. I became a professional beekeeper in 2002 and have taught beekeeping. In 2004, trying to escape Roundup and the environmental devastation as a consequence of soybean farming, we moved all of our hives to Pirané and Monte Lindo in Formosa Province in the tropical region of Argentina, where we still have them. The ranch has 1,000 hives, is organically certified, and is one of the largest beekeeping operations in the north of Argentina. Over the years. I developed new technique called Extensive Organic Beekeeping that is especially for the care of African honey bees, although it works well also with European honey bees. | planned to publish a book, but instead decided to offer the materials free of charge in a manual on my blog:

www.oscarperone. blogspot.com

(Note - the text has been translated into many different languages by software translation)

BURUNDI

Twenty seven members of Gahosha Association attended a beekeeping workshop held at Gahosha in February. Here the participants are comparing local-style with top-bar hives.

CROATIA

In March 2009 the University of Zagreb and Croatian Beekeepers’ Association signed an agreement to found a beekeeping centre and institute in Mrzlo Palje in Zumberak municipality. The centre's primary goal will be to help improve beekeeping. Experts from Zagreb University will assist in training agronomists, beekeepers, biologists and veterinarians. Beekeeping schools for beginners, professionals and school children will also be arranged. The centre will produce, brand and sell traditional Croatian products.

Source: Croatian Times

CAMBODIA

WWF hopes that honey could provide a sustainable livelihood for Mondulkiri Province's Phnong minority. Honey from wild bees in the protected areas of Mondulkiri has the potential to attract both national and international customers, and with prices rising and with training and marketing knowledge, the Phnong are well situated to take advantage. “This year, the price of wild honey in the local market has doubled compared to last year, selling at 20,000 riels (US$4.88; €3.49) per litre,” said Seng Teak, Country Director for WWF.

Even though the Phnong in Mondulkiri's Krang Teh and Pou Chrey communes already collect more than 1,000 litres of wild honey a year, Seng Teak says it still does not come close to meeting demand. "Therefore the Phnong will set up bee farms in their community forests to increase the amount of wild honey collected,” he said. For Mondulkiri honey to succeed internationally, it needs to maintain a consistent standard that differentiates it from other honey products in the region.

Femy Pinto, Country Facilitator for the Non-Timber Forest Product-Exchange Program (NTFP-EP), said that Mondulkiri honey can achieve a competitive advantage if it is a sustainably harvested, quality product. With financial support from WWF, NTFP-EP has been training Phnong in two communes to collect honey hygienically and package to international standards, while maintaining the close relationship between people, forests and NTFPs.

Khouth Sophakchakrya, Phnom Penh Post

ETHIOPIA

Tadesse Gezahegne writes: Beekeepers usually keep bait hives or occupied hives on the branches of trees. | was surprised when | saw hives hanging on a high tension power pole. | found that all the hives were occupied by strong honey bee colonies. | came to realise that bees will nest anywhere they find comfortable. | believe that nesting on power equipment is uncommon elsewhere in the world - am | correct?

NIGERIA

Amachi Farms Ltd in Abia State reached a honey production peak of 307.5 litres in 2007 from 16 colonies located in seven apiaries. In 2008 the number of colonies increased to 21 and the harvest was 216 litres. Between November 2008 and April 2009, 99.6 litres of honey were harvested from 30 colonies. One reason for this poor harvest is harsh weather conditions with especially high temperatures and a decline in rainfall. Also, the devastation of bee trees such as Black Velvet and Dactyladenia barteri by army worms in October 2008. The demand for local honey continues to rise but the supply to meet it continues to fall. How do we deal with this growing trend?

Mike Ukattah, Amachi Farms Ltd, Abia State

ZAMBIA

Seven years ago, beekeeping was not heard of in our District. With the intervention of a Government/IFAD sponsored programme The Forest Resource Management Project the prospect of real income from beekeeping activities arose. Over 1,000 farmers were trained during 2002 to 2007 in beekeeping and sustainable utilisation of forest resources. From zero in 2000/2001, production of honey in the District jumped to over 1.5 tonnes in 2004/2005 season, and over 2 tonnes in 2007. However, there have been many challenges along the way, for example rampant fires late in the dry season, and poor handling of bee products - especially honey - resulting in compromised quality. As a result, Honey for Life was formed and registered as a commercial entity dealing in bee products while championing issues related to environmental degradation in the light of the escalating levels of deforestation. Honey for Life is involved in building capacity at local level in terms of beekeeping and income generating activities based on natural resources. Honey for Life has faced challenges: for example in traditional practice it is believed that forest burning can take place only late in the dry season to control wild vegetation, and this can be ordered only by traditional leadership, the chiefs and village headpersons. This is so entrenched that training farmers in early burning techniques to avoid fire damage to the natural vegetation is almost meaningless. However Strides have been made by sensitising the traditional leadership to the importance of early burning. Other challenges concern limited capacity in terms of resources and knowledge of natural resources. There is growing complacency on the part of farmers trained through government programmes over the past two years, and the number of practising beekeepers has fallen due to various factors. Honey for Life and other stakeholders are stepping up their efforts to ensure rural populations benefit economically from their own natural resources in their localities, while ensuring sustainability.

Ernest Musonda, Luapula Province, Zambia