NYSC AGRO-ALLIED GROUP, ILARO CALLS FOR SUPPORTS ON MODERN BEEKEEPING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICE

The team of the Youth Corps members under the auspices of the National Youths Service Corps-Community Development Service, AGRO ALLIED GROUP, Yewa South, Ilaro; Ogun State, Nigeria received a day training with the sponsored resource box from Bees for Development and the beekeeping training guide sent by Bidemi Ojeleye, the National President of the Federation of Beekeepers Association of Nigeria (FEBKAN) earlier received by Bees Extension Education Services headed by Mr. Asade Elijah.

Cross section of participants at the training session with Mr. Elijah Asade at the center

The team, through the leadership of Miss Oyelade Damilola Adeola appreciates Bees for Development, United Kingdom  and FEBKAN’s National President for the free resource box and beekeeping training guide sent respectively for the impressive free training opportunity conducted by Mr. Asade Elijah of Bees Extension Education Services, Abotokio; Ogun State Nigeria.

In his remark, Mr. Mojekwu Dennis passionately request the donor agencies to come to their aid  so as to use the training received to empower the pro-poor communities within the local government in order to meet parts of the Sustainable Development goals on livelihood and rural development. 

However, local and international donor agencies or philanthropists who can be of assistance should contact Mr. Asade Elijah of Bees Extension Education Services, Abotokio; Ogun State Nigeria or FEBKAN’s National President for appropriate linkage.

What Gives Bees their Sweet Tooth?

Scientists have discovered bees linger on a flower, emptying it of nectar, because they have sugar-sensing taste neurons which work together to prolong the pleasure of the sweetness.

Newcastle University researchers report that the bees' taste neurons found on their proboscis - their mouthparts - fire intense signals for up to 10 seconds - much longer than the taste neurons found in other insects. Bees visit flowers to obtain nectar, which they eat to feed their colony and to fuel their flight. Bees can taste sugars on their proboscis and when in contact with food, taste neurons on the proboscis are activated signaling the presence of food.

Publishing in Current Biology, the researchers report that the neurons that specifically respond to sugar exhibit a very intense activation, which persists up to 10 seconds. While these neurons exhibit intense activity, the bee will remain feeding at the same sugar source. Only when this activity declines, does the bee remove its proboscis to enable it to try a further feeding point.

Author Geraldine Wright, Professor of Insect Neuroethology, explains: "We demonstrate in bees that, like in humans, the first taste of something sweet such as a lollipop is incredibly intense but then becomes less interesting. This is so our sensory neurons don't get overloaded and burn out.

"What we've found in bees is that the initial intense sweetness of sugar can last up to 10 seconds - so they will stay on the same sugar source. This makes sense if you think a worker bee is not just collecting for its own use but is storing it for others in the hive. It also means the bee will find a flower and drink all the nectar before other bees can intervene and take it."

Discovery of Two Neurons
The team found that the bee has two taste neurons within each 'taste bud' which interact to enable this persistent, intense sugar neuron activity. Lead author, Newcastle University PhD student Ashwin Miriyala said: "Other insects have one type of taste neuron that is activated by sugars. We have discovered however, that bees have two different types of sugar-activated neurons.

"The first neuron exhibits intense activity when in contact with sugar. The second neuron intermittently inhibits the activity of the first neuron for short durations of time. This inhibition allows the first neuron a sort of 'resting period', so it can recover and maintain its intense activity for longer periods of time.

"Our data show that the interaction between these two sugar neurons is a result of electrical connections between them. This is the first evidence for this kind of connection in any insect taste neuron."

The work was funded by the Leverhulme Trust and the BBSRC and following these findings, the Newcastle University team intend to carry out further research investigating how the bee's sense of sweet taste might be interrupted by pesticides.

REFERENCE: Burst firing in bee gustatory neurons prevents adaptation. Ashwin Miriyala, Sébastien Kessler, F. Claire Rind and Geraldine A. Wright. Current Biology

Culled from ABJ Extra-May 10, 2018

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Bidemi Ojeleye is the Founder/Director, Centre for Bee Research & Development (CEBRAD), a reputable Certified Master Beekeeper and author of many beekeeping textbooks. Do you want to join our Beekeeping Investment Scheme (BIS) or have any beekeeping problem freezing your brain? Please visit www.cebrad.com or call 08066744545, 09057760404, 07083813308 for final solution.

Bees contribute billions to farmers’ economy

Yes! They don't earn wages, but farmers need them: bees. It has been discovered that wild bees provide crop pollination services worth billions. Since 1990's there has been much debate in the scientific literature on the so-called pollination crisis, phenomenon which involves many plant species, including the most important for human economy crop plants, yet our farmers seems not to take it seriously.  

Mutualistic biotic interactions as among flowering plants and their animal pollinators are a key component of biodiversity. Pollination, especially by insects, is a key element in ecosystem functioning, and hence constitutes an ecosystem service of global importance. Not only sexual reproduction of plants is ensured, but also yields are stabilized and genetic variability of crops is maintained, counteracting inbreeding depression and facilitating system resilience. 

While experiencing rapid environmental change, there is an increased demand for food and income security, especially in sub-Saharan communities, which are highly dependent on small scale agriculture. The contribution of bee pollinators significantly increased yield quantity and quality on average up to 62%, to smallholders’ production of some major cash crops.

In most developing countries, crop production is by small scale farmers, who mainly produce for their own consumption and the extra for market. Pollination in such systems is unmanaged and is usually incidental, supported by nearby ecosystems. One of the reasons of not managing pollination is the lack of understanding of its economic value. The “public-good” nature of pollination in these systems also discourages individual initiatives intended to conserve pollinators.

In the UK, as elsewhere in the advanced world, bees are valued not only for the honey and wax that they produce, but also for the pollination service that they provide to the majority of our crops and wild flowers. Assessment of the economic value of crop pollination by bees necessitates the need for conserving the insect pollinator diversity. A decline in the population of insect pollinators in ecosystems can result in a decrease in crop production, vegetation cover, an extinction of a number of plant species, and as a result the degradation of ecosystem services and health. 

The economic value of bee pollinators was determined based on the portion of the value of crops attributed to pollination by bees. This value was calculated based on the yield and the value of each crop, the dependency of each crop on bee pollinators and the proportion of wild native bee and honey bee pollinators.

Be it as it may; why are Nigerian farmers especially crop growers seem not interested in what will boost their yield with additional income from hive produce? This could not be unconnected with inadequate knowledge about beekeeping and what that ‘golden insect’ stands to benefit their farming activities.

For those who are oblivious about it, I want to enjoin them to give it a thorough consideration by placing one or two bee hives in their farm today and observe the difference in their yield. Come September 2018; Nigeria will serve as host to African continent, USA and the rest of the world to showcase the effect of bee pollination on thousands of crops we consume. It is then you will be able to confirm that you’ve been leaving money on the table.

To your beekeeping success!

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Bidemi Ojeleye is the Founder/Director, Centre for Bee Research & Development (CEBRAD), a reputable Certified Master Beekeeper and author of many beekeeping textbooks. Do you want to join our Beekeeping Investment Scheme (BIS) or have any beekeeping problem freezing your brain? Please visit www.cebrad.com or call 08066744545, 09057760404, 07083813308 for final solution.

Let’s BEE where the continents meet... For the Apiexpo Africa 2018

Do you know that Nigeria will introduce the new Apiculture model for economic development that the rest of the continent may draw inspiration from? Yes, ApiExpo Africa 2018 will offer the world’s largest black market which makes Nigeria the beekeeping investment destination of choice in Africa.

ApiExpo Africa 2018, a private sector led initiative under ApiTrade Africa will be meeting under the theme “Beekeeping Industry for Sustainable Development, Wealth Creation and Economic Diversification” being the most important beekeeping event of the year for those who are engaged in apiculture and related industries. 

This international exhibition ApiExpo Africa 2018 is designed for the entrepreneurs and all beekeeping associations and cooperatives willing to represent themselves globally. 

The international exhibition ApiExpo Africa 2018 welcomes beekeepers entrepreneurs, bee scientists, other relevant stakeholders and journalists along with potential customers from all over the world with a total quantity of over 5000 visitors and exhibitors from Africa, Europe, USA, Asia, Middle East and other parts of the world . 

Make the most of your stand to attract the attention of potential clients, customers and partners along with the media representatives and to represent your company and your products to them. The exhibition foyer will become an astonishing projection of the global beekeeping market representing the key players along with medium and small effective enterprises and providing a wide range of opportunities for comprehensive market research. 

Meet your competitors face to face. Get the truthful feedback from your potential customers and clients. Verify if your product is competitive in terms of quality and price. Find a new niche market for your business development.

Use the five days of the international exhibition ApiExpo Africa 2018 to find new potential partners and clients and to directly communicate to the representatives of the companies you are most interested in. Strengthen the relations with your partners by holding joint B2B meetings, conferences and the receptions at the Abuja International Conference Center.

Are you a beekeeper, a processor, equipment fabricator, bee researcher, apitherapist, or bee and its products lover? You are one of the important and necessary apiculture stakeholders expected to gather together in one location and promote apiculture. 

Why not take advantage to reach your potential clients easily and promptly. These and many more are some of the economic gains expected at the coming ApiExpo Africa 2018. Let’s all ‘bee’ where the continent meet….and showcase your real ingenuity. Don't be left out.

For more information visit apiexpoafrica2018.org

To your beekeeping success!

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Bidemi Ojeleye is the Founder/Director, Centre for Bee Research & Development (CEBRAD), a reputable Certified Master Beekeeper and author of many beekeeping textbooks. Do you want to join our Beekeeping Investment Scheme (BIS) or have any beekeeping problem freezing your brain? Please visit www.cebrad.com or call 08066744545, 09057760404, 07083813308 for final solution.

The Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in conjunction with ApiExpo Africa warmly invite all stakeholders in Apiculture sector to the 6th Edition of ApiExpo Africa scheduled to take place at the Abuja International Conference Centre. ApiExpo Africa 2018 will be held from 25th to 29th September 2018, under the theme:"Beekeeping Industry for Sustainable Development, Wealth Creation and Economic Diversification".

The main activities of the event shall include exhibitions, B2B meetings and conferences of scientific issues of Apiculture, Technical training workshops and Technical tours to Apiculture sites in Nigeria. The event will bring together over 5000 delegates and exhibitors from Africa, Europe, USA, Asia, Middle East and other parts of the world. Early Bird Registratio is now open to interested participants by visiting http://apiexpoafrica2018.org.

Similarly, the organizers of ApiExpo Africa 2018 would like to call upon all interested institutions, organizations and individuals to present papers pertinent to the apiculture industry and the aforementioned theme of the event. Please visit the dedicated website of ApiExpo Africa 2018, www.apiexpoafrica2018.org and download the guidelines for the paper presentations.

There are three types of papers:

1. Technical Papers: These papers are prepared around the thematic areas as given in the guidelines.  They can be presented by any competent participant.
2. Poster Papers: These papers are prepared around the thematic areas as given in the specific guidelines.  They are mainly based on research.
3. Situation Papers: These papers are reserved for representatives of National Governments and / or National Umbrella Organisations which promote apiculture in Africa.  They provide national perspectives of apiculture development in their respective countries.  The papers are intended to inform and stimulate discussions on policy related and programmatic interventions in beekeeping among African countries.

Don't be left out of this event, join the train before it moves.

To your beekeeping success!

________________________________________________

Bidemi Ojeleye is the Founder/Director, Centre for Bee Research & Development (CEBRAD), a reputable Certified Master Beekeeper and author of many beekeeping textbooks. Do you want to join our Beekeeping Investment Scheme (BIS) or have any beekeeping problem freezing your brain? Please visit www.cebrad.com or call 08066744545, 09057760404, 07083813308 for final solution.

What's your plan for 2018 World Bee Day?

The UN General Assembly on Wednesday 20^th December, 2017, adopted 41 resolutions out of which it adopted, without a vote, a resolution on World Bee Day (document A/72/420), by which the Assembly decided to designate 20 May as World Bee Day to raise awareness of the importance of pollinators, the threats that they face and their contribution to sustainable development.

The first commemoration of World Bee Day since the day the UN General Assembly adopted it comes up on 20^th May and it is expected that all stakeholders in the industry participate in the celebration in their various States. Some good activities expected from the stakeholders include:

·         Create public awareness by organizing a public lecture with any bee theme but this year’s theme centers around “the role of bees in ensuring food security” People can wear bee costumes.

·         Hold group discussion especially to talk about common problem within a locality and how to solve it, collect floral calendar information on local wildflower etc.

·         Plant bee friendly plants with native and nectar producing flowers. Native plants are the best to grow in any region.

·         Encourage farmers to learn about how to raise honeybees or allowing a beekeeper to maintain beehives on their farms. If you can't raise bees, talk to your friends who have space and get them interested in raising bees.

·         Encourage beekeepers to open their apiary to friends.

·         Organize honey show inviting members of the public. There are lots of flavors of honey depending on what flowers the bees visited.

Beekeepers associations, individuals and other stakeholders in the industry are expected to participate fully in this year’s World Bee Day..

Happy World Bee Day in advance!!!

In the subsequent posts; we shall serve you with why you must not miss this edition of ApiExpo Africa, how you will make more money from the event and your roles as associations, cooperative groups or individual stakeholders. Catch yah then.

To your beekeeping success!

________________________________________________

Bidemi Ojeleye is the Founder/Director, Centre for Bee Research & Development (CEBRAD), a reputable Certified Master Beekeeper and author of many beekeeping textbooks. Do you want to join our Beekeeping Investment Scheme (BIS) or have any beekeeping problem freezing your brain? Please visit www.cebrad.com or call 08066744545, 09057760404, 07083813308 for final solution.