Bees for Development Journal 142 March 2022
Dear friends tripled. At least 50 nations depend on Ukraine for 30% or more of their wheat supply, with developing nations of north Africa, Asia and the middle east the most reliant.
With the war in Ukraine dominating the news, our thoughts are with beekeeping colleagues in the nation. Our cover picture features a tree beekeeper at work in an oak forest outside Kiev – a picture taken during happier times in 2013, when Ukraine proudly organised their huge Apimondia Congress, enabling beekeepers from all over the world to meet and enjoy the nation’s warm hospitality. Ukraine has a rich beekeeping culture which includes a huge range of skills and traditions, generating great volumes of honey every year – many beekeepers using the sturdy Ukrainian hive with hinged roof, insulating cushions and 24 large frames, closely resembling the Golden Hive mentioned on page 14.
As always, it is people in the poorest nations who will be hit hardest, at a time when many already face grim financial situations because of the pandemic. Bees cannot solve all the world’s problems, yet we know that beekeepers everywhere can harvest nutritious honey for their families and create useful income from bees’ wholesome produce. We hope that by the time you read this, beekeepers in Ukraine have been able to begin thinking about returning to their bees and resume spring planting with confidence.
The current war has repercussions for people far beyond Ukraine too, as food supply chains and global stability are tested. Ukraine has in recent years been the biggest producer of sunflower oil and one of the main suppliers of wheat to the world market.
Nicola Bradbear, Director Bees for Development
The world now faces food crisis, with soaring prices and millions of people again likely to face hunger. Covid-19 already caused food price rises, and this war could tip the global food system into disaster. Wheat prices have reached an all-time high, rising by nearly a third, while rapeseed and sunflower oil prices have increased by 60%. The price of urea, a key nitrogen fertiliser, has
March 2022
From poverty to beekeeper: Beekeeping with Batwa people in Uganda......................................
3
News.............................................
7
BfD Resource Centre.....................
8
Practical Beekeeping: Acacia and cornstalk hives in Nigeria.............
10
News & New Books.......................
13
Look ahead.................................... 15 BfDJ Hub update............................ 16
Bees for Development Journal Produced quarterly and sent to readers in 128 countries Editor: Nicola Bradbear PhD Co-ordinator: Helen Jackson BSc Subscriptions cost £30 per year – see page 15 for ways to pay
Bees for Development Works to assist beekeepers in developing countries. Readers in developing countries may apply for a sponsored subscription. Sign up to our Resource Centre and apply online: resources.beesfordevelopment.org/sign-up/ Bees for Development Trust gratefully acknowledge: ADM, Artemis Charitable Trust, Bees for Development North America, Briogeo, British Wax Refining Co Ltd, Charles Hayward Foundation, Didymus Charity, E H Thorne (Beehives) Ltd, Ethiopiaid, Euromonitor International, Eva Crane Trust, Healing Herbs, Hiscox Foundation, Koster Keunen, National Lottery Community Fund UK, Neal’s Yard Remedies, Nelsons Homeopathic Pharmacy, Rowse Honey Ltd, Wales and Africa, Waterloo Foundation, Welsh Government, Yasaeng Beekeeping Supplies and many other generous organisations and individuals Copyright: You are welcome to translate and/or reproduce items appearing in Bees for Development Journal as part of our Information Service. Permission is given on the understanding that the Journal and author(s) are acknowledged, our contact details are provided in full, and you send us a copy of the item or the website address where it is used.
Image © Bees for Development
Edition 142
Cover image: In peaceful times, a Ukranian beekeeper at work in an oak forest
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