By Madiba Singhateh
At least 70 rural folks have embarked on a four-day training on beekeeping and bee production by the National Beekeepers Association of the Gambia (NBAG) in Brikama.
The beekeepers were trained in beekeeping, bee production, soap, and ointment making through bees and bee waxes to save the forest from charcoal production.
The 70 rural folks including women and youth who hail from Bintang, Kansala, Bondali, and Jarrol districts in Foni and Kiang West district in LRR, will be given materials including overalls, shoes, gloves, and two beehives each after completion.
Siaka Manga, the manager at NBAG, said they have to adhere to the teaching they have learned and when they get back, they should work tirelessly to make sure that their hives have honey, noting that perseverance is what led the bees to cases.
He said they would bring the hives to their doorstep, so they should make sure that they have honey in them.
Mr. Manga said the four-day training on beekeeping and value addition was funded by FAO to promote sustainable beekeeping and provide livelihoods through honey production.
He said they would also visit them and see whether they’ve done what they have been taught.
President of NBAG Musa Gibba said the participants were chosen by their communities because they believed in them.
He said they believed that those engaged in beekeeping and honey production could make an impact in the trade.
Mr. Gibba added that they should not fail their communities when they return, urging them to put to good use the knowledge learned.
In giving his closing remarks, Tijan Manga, Kanilia Ward Councilor said he is glad to be part of the ceremony of the beekeepers.
He said NBAG is their development partner.
“Last year you heard that the councilor did a tree planting in Jomo kunda and this Bulubo so that we replace the trees we cut down, how many trees are fell in a year and how are reforested this is our own teaching,” he added.
“If this trend continues for ten years how will our forest like in the future, our forefathers were living without charcoal production, they survived on their farms but if you go to certain communities now, you will not even find a bowl of rice.”
“If we want to continue surviving on charcoal production come in the coming years even local trees “Jalo’s” and “Duta Kobu” will become a thing of the past because that is the tree they are felling for charcoal production,” he said.
Gerro Manneh, the Beekeeper’s technical Adviser also advised the trainers and handed over certificates to the participants.
