Bees for Development Journal 95
NEWS AROUND THE WORLD
Manager of the honey bee project at Labasa Muslim College, Madhu Swami said that when they set up their first hive in 2007 they did not envisage it would one day save students' education. "We started with three hives and gradually expanded and eventually so did our income levels." Last year, the money from the project was used to pay school fees for 11 students, and part of the money that we earned is directed to a welfare fund to assist students with bus fares”.
“Involving students in the project equips them with the skills of bee farming. This is an alternative source of income, something that they can pursue if it all does not work out in the classroom. The target is for continued expansion to a level that will involve all the students at the school,” said Madhu Swamil. The project is sponsored by the Vodafone ATH foundation.
Source: www.fijitimes.com
INDIA
Our primary focus is on improving bee ecology and beekeeping methods that respect the honey bee. Our hope is that by introducing new beekeepers to the rewards of beekeeping, there will eventually be millions of ‘backyard’ beekeepers worldwide who will help bring back bee populations and improve the genetic diversity of honey bees. This diversity is critically important for the survival of this most precious natural resource. With this in view, we have developed a low-cost top-bar hive called the Kissan hive, built of Ferro cement. It costs less than US$1.00 (€0.78) to make. It is lightweight and portable. Being built of Ferro cement it should last a life time if well looked after. We have also brought out a detailed e-book for those who wish to take up beekeeping as a hobby. This e-book details how to make the hive and other equipment such as honey extractor and veil, using every day household items or recycled scrap material. We have
The Kissan hive
Guru Nath, Nungambakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
LEBANON
A celebration was held in February for the launch of an apiculture project under the patronage of the Safadi Corporation and with the collaboration of AIDA Group and funding from AECID, the official Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Assistance. Minister
Mohammad Safadi explained that the purpose of the project was to re-vitalise beekeeping in North Lebanon as a means to fight poverty. The Spanish Ambassador to Lebanon, Juan Carlos Gafo, said that over US$400,000 (€320,000) had been donated to the project.
Source: www.iloubnan.info/business
TURKEY
One type of honey harvested in the Black Sea Region is poisonous if consumed in large amounts. This honey is known as ‘crazy honey’ or ‘sour honey’ by the local people. It is Rhododendron honey, Orman gülü or Kumar in Turkish, which is poisonous (grayanotoxin, formerly known as andromedotoxin, acetylandromedol, and rhodotoxin) to humans due to the highly toxic compounds it contains. A well known story about this honey dates back to 399 BC. When Xenopon’s army retreated from Persia across Pontus in Asia Minor near Trabzon in the Black Sea, the soldiers ate Rhododendron honey and were poisoned. It took over a day for the soldiers to recover from the toxic effects.
İrfan Kandemir, Ankara University, Turkey
UGANDA
Adyaka Rural Youth Development Initiative were runners up (northern Uganda) in the Private Sector Foundation’s Annual Community Development Award receiving a certificate and cash prize of UGX500,000 (US$250; €180) towards the purchase of more hives.
Robert Okodia, Adyaka Rural Youth Development Initiative, Lira
Training with Adyaka Rural Youth Development Initiative 12
PHOTO CREDIT © ROBERT OKODIA
Two honey processing plants worth US$50,000 (€40,200) are due to begin operation shortly to support existing market demand for honey. Agriculture Officer Kamal Prasad said “The plants will be managed by Food Processors (Fiji) Limited and Island Apiary and can process 200 kg of honey per shift. The current market demand is 800 tonnes but our production stands at only 395 tonnes per year. The cleanliness and quality of the processed honey will meet international standards and will enable honey products to penetrate the tourist sector”.
tried to keep the start up cost very low and affordable. The Kissan hive could be mass produced. The e-book is available for a small price from www.freebeekeeping.com
PHOTO CREDIT © FREEBEEKEEPING.COM
FIJI
