Apimondia Standing Commission for Beekeeping for Rural Development

Nicola Bradbear, President

Report May 2005 – May 2006

  1. Honey Trade Workshop, 19-20 August 2005

This Workshop was organised by Bees for Development as part of our research Project on African Honey, and in cooperation with the Apimondia Standing Commissions Beekeeping for Rural Development and Beekeeping Technology and Equipment. It took place for two days prior to the Apimondia Congress, in Jurys’ Ballsbridge Hotel, Dublin. The purpose of the Workshop was to enable honey-marketing organisations in Africa and other developing countries to understand requirements for honey intended for import by the EU. It was intended for Ministry personnel responsible for trade, producer groups and cooperatives that are considering export, and particularly intended for people from countries that are not yet on the EU’s list of so-called third countries from which EU member states are permitted to import honey. It was attended by about 35 people, and seemed to be regarded as a great success. One outcome was the new African Honey Trade Forum.

  1. 39th Apimondia Congress Dublin

Plenary session

Full sessions: however the quality of some of the papers presented was low.

Three day practical Workshop

A three-day, practical-orientated workshop took place during the Dublin Congress. There were 30 practical demonstrations by experts from Africa, Asia, America and Europe. Titles ranged from ‘How to make honey beer’ to ‘How to organise a course for beginners’. The success of this event was in great part due to Claire Chavasse and other Irish experts who provided perfect demonstrations of various beekeeping skills, and with the whole event assisted by many Irish volunteers. This proved a popular event, with most talks full to capacity, and seems to have generated considerable subsequent interest. A frequent comment was “the best thing about the Congress were these Workshops”.

Stand within ApiExpo

The local organising committee kindly provided an excellent stand space within ApiExpo, and this stand was also kindly assisted by Irish volunteers. This provided a useful focal point for those interested in beekeeping development. NGO’s and Charities providing display materials and ‘manning’ the stand included the Asian Apiculture Association (AAA), ACBO (Association of Caribbean Beekeepers’ Organisations), Bees for Development Trust (UK), DBF (Denmark), Keystone Foundation (India), Kutsungirira Beekeeping Club (Zimbabwe), Stichting BeeSupport (The Netherlands), SITE (Kenya), SOS Sahel (Ethiopia),TUNADO (Uganda), and others.

Funding

Before the Congress, I made considerable efforts to locate funding for people from developing countries to participate in the Congress, and to sponsor the cost of the Standing Commission’s stand at the Congress. We distributed 3,750 information packs concerning Philip McCabe’s June 11 2005 attempt to make a World Record Bee Beard with 500,000 bees.

Promotion of the Apimondia Congress, events and publications

Articles about the Dublin Congress, notices and flyers in Bees for Development Journal (June 2005, September 2005), and material distributed at UK and international beekeeping events. The next Melbourne Congress inBees for Development Journal editions December 2005, March 2006, June 2006, sent to 130 countries.

We also featured the Dublin Congress and other Apimondia Symposia in the calendars of Bees for Development Journal and our website

  1. Standing Commission Beekeeping for Rural Development: Working group on Co-operatives

We are preparing a proposal concerning work with isolated communities in Chile.

  1. Standing Commission Beekeeping for Rural Development: Working group - African Honey Trade Forum

We are planning a follow-up meeting in Uganda in 2006: see below

  1. Apimondia Symposium: 4th Caribbean Congress

This was an excellent meeting organised in Port of Spain, Trinidad, 14-18 November 2005. Attended by around 200 people. Full report of event and outcomes in Bees for Development Journal 78 (March 2006).

  1. FAO Collaboration

I prepared proposals seeking FAO support for participants to attend the Dublin Congress: FAO funded Mr Lea’s participation.

  1. Other Collaboration

I have been working in India (Darwin Initiative), Banda Aceh, Indonesia (Bees for Development Trust), Mozambique (DFID) and Ethiopia (SOS Sahel/Netherlands Embassy). My main research continues to be the DFID (UK Government) African Honey Research project, concerning streptomycin in African honey, importation etc., and a new Darwin Initiative funded project in India (with the Keystone Foundation) concerning the links between bees, biodiversity and livelihoods.

  1. Forthcoming events

Fifth Caribbean Beekeeping Congress, Guyana 2007 date not yet confirmed.

Honey Trade Workshop II

A continuation from the meeting held in Dublin in August 2005. To be held in Uganda in August/September 2006. Date and venue to be confirmed.

Nicola Bradbear, Monmouth UK, 10 May 2006

Nicola Bradbear Apimondia Report May 20051