3. description of the project
Project title Beekeepers’ Field School
Goal (in one sentence) Development of sustainable beekeeping as a contribution to poverty reduction, better health and nature conservation
Beneficiaries/target group Beekeepers and their families in 6 poor districts in Northern Laos (estimated 40 villages, 200 families)
Anticipated period of implementation October 2010 till September 2011
Location Oudomxay Province & Phongsaly Province in Northern Laos
Project manager(s) Anna SCHOOFFS; Project Advisor CCLE-mail address: a_schooffs@yahoo.co.ukTel: +856203218904
Short description of the project(additional explanation can be enclosed to this form) The Beekeeper’s Field School will be organised in 4 districts in Oudomxay province and in 2 districts in Phongsaly province.The demand comes from the Community Beekeeping group from Oudomxay (in the past supported by Fastenopfer, Swiss NGO). Leading bee keepers want to act as facilitators for the further development of sustainable beekeeping in Oudomxay and Phongsaly Provinces.After training new beekeepers, they will act as middlemen, selling quality bee products. Because they are beekeepers themselves, adulteration will not be an option, because they know this would ruin their own businesses.Thus by forming different beekeeper groups, with valuable knowledge on practical beekeeping, the marketing of bee products will be made easier, and a system of transfer of knowledge will be developed. ·                                 The first step will be to provide the facilitators a training in the FFS ( Farmers’ Field Schools) approach through a training for trainers.(TOT)·                                 In the second step the facilitators will start their own FFS groups.·                                 Third step will be to set up a monitoring system with regular exchange meetings with facilitators to discuss approach/successes and problems.·                                 At the end of the project a meeting will be held for the bee keepers and interested outsiders to spread the experiences of the bee keepers and their knowledge on bee management techniques.Also the value aspects (monetary or domestic use) of the different bee products will be in focus; and a useable marketing system will be developed.
Expected results To have conducted a TOT (training for trainers/facilitators) so trainers are able to set up small FFS units.At the end of 2011 at least 3 FFS units will be in place, and a system is developed to disseminate knowledge gained through experiences, in more villages.First steps for a sustainable marketing system are made, so beekeepers are able to sell their quality products at fair prices. Better health & environment, more income
Period (from-to)  Activity
Preparation Inform authorities on  goal of the activity and FFS methodology
October 2010 TOT for bee trainers in FFS methodologyFormation of FFS groups
November ‘10 FFS1: Life of a bee colony, how to work togetherFFS2 : how to get bees: different strategies, making hives, monitoring bee colonies
December ‘10 FFS3: making a bee flora calendar, mapping and protection of flora, FFS4: design of bee gardens, 
January 2011  FFS5: management of hive, mapping beefloraFFS6:management of hive, mapping beeflora, making a bee garden
February ‘11  FFS7: working with schools: prepare school visitsFFS8: bee flora mapping, follow up bee gardens
March ‘11 FFS9: honey harvest & quality, marketing aspectsFFS10:school visit
April ‘11 FFS 11: marketing group & prepare marketing action, follow up coloniesFFS 12: marketing action
May ‘11 FFS 13: monitoring & mapping of bee colonies, FFS 14: conservation of bee environment
June/July/August Planting low input fruit trees as a nutritious food for school children and bee flora
September ‘11 Writing up reports, feed back to beekeepers, meeting with interested persons, organizations. 
5. expected follow-up/sustainability Sustainable beekeeping is a worthwhile activity. It is one important aspect of sustainable livelihoods.In Northern Laos the local bees live in nature and poor people use this resource to improve their health, food and income.However working with the local bees is tricky: the bees are still wild and not much is known about their behavior.One needs patience, knowledge and experience.This project is a formulation by the beekeepers themselves. There is a demand for more knowledge and group formation for marketing purposes.There are 5 village trainers in the area with basic beekeeping knowledge, who want conduct “on field research” with their trainees. This community based approach ensures long term sustainability beyond the one year start-up. 

With the formation of Beekeepers’ Field Schools, a pool of experienced local trainers will be formed.Linking these trainers with other projects or local organizations with beekeeping activities will have additional impact beyond the project area. 

The Schools will also link up with researchers and research institutes (international and national /Nabong university), that are interested in this farmers’ based action research. 

In the mean time all participants of the schools will be able to keep bees in a non destructive way, have good quality honey and other good quality bee products for the market. 

Part of the School is to develop a system for spreading experiences and know-how in beekeeping carried by the local beekeepers.

  Annex:Background:Bee hunting and beekeeping has been part of Lao village life for centuries. The villagers have a vast knowledge on bees which have never been documented, but which can play a big part in the development of techniques for a sustainable and modern bee keeping with the local bees (Apis cerana).Beekeeping has an important role in village life.Wax is sought after for religious rites, honey is an excellent gift for family or visitors, is used as a local medicine and brood is eaten as extra protein in the diet. Bee bread (fermented pollen in the comb) is consumed with the honey.Having bees means to have a ready pharmacy at home.But bees play also an important role as pollinators in agriculture, and in the forest diversity. Keeping bees is an entry point for nature conservation and education.Honey means also extra income for the families.Traditional methods need adaptation to realities of today. The used techniques are based on an abundance of bee flora and possible nesting sites. Modern life, with population growth, changing agricultural methods and clearance of forests, changes the availability of local bee populations. 

Justification of project/activity:Support for beekeeping has a multiplier positive effect on agriculture production, health and bio-diversity conservation. Better health, nutrition and environment help to reduce poverty. 

Beekeeping techniques must be adapted to make harvests less destructive and measures are to be taken to ensure an environment suitable for bees.New techniques are needed to be developed which local farmers can easily apply.Therefore local bee keepers and their families are the central point for this project.Without them, new initiatives to introduce modern bee keeping cannot be done. The key to these techniques lays in local knowledge of bee behavior and adaptation to Lao village life. 

Development relevance·        Effects of project/activity on poverty alleviation:Bigger income trough better production: good quality honey, bigger harvest, processing of bee products for the market.Improved nutrition through more bee products and more fruit in the local diet.Less expenditure on medicines through the use of bee products as medicine for first line of help.Better health results in more labor productivity and more income. 

  • Effects of project/activity on women’s situation:

Processing honey has always been the domain of the women. But the processing of other bee products with added value can increase their income.There are no taboos or restrictions for women to keep bees themselves. Actually the Asian bee is a gentle bee, the hives are small and weigh not much. They are easy to handle. Even children can keep bees. 

  • Effects of project/activity on environment:

Bee keeping and protection of the surrounding environment are closely intertwined. 

  • Effects of project/activity on local culture and customs:

Recognition of traditional values ( e.g. religious rites, honey is medicinal,), and own bee keeping techniques are part of the FFS, in developing a sustainable bee caring/management system.