Our journal readers report back

Our quarterly Bees for Development Journal is a valuable source of information about apiculture worldwide, providing unique news and views. The Journal includes practical advice on beekeeping and management techniques, future events (including training programmes) and reports from beekeeping projects and associations worldwide. It provides an avenue into the beekeeping network which is important for information exchange and making new contacts.

Beekeepers everywhere need access to information, networks and news about this important enterprise. In the poorer countries of the world not only are these support structures often lacking, but the importance of apiculture is much greater – it supports livelihoods in harsh environments and for a greater number of people. The content of Bees for Development Journal is underpinned by practical experience and emanates ‘from the field’. Practical factsheets, research articles, project experiences and community voices inform and educate, so people everywhere can do more and better beekeeping, helping themselves and their communities.

With four issues published each year since 1993, the Bees for Development Journal represents a unique and credible body of knowledge on simple and sustainable beekeeping. Articles focus on:
• Sharing practical tips for beekeepers, especially those who cannot afford to spend money on buying expensive inputs
• Demonstrating what works and what does not work, e.g. how to label honey, how to prevent wax moth, how to sell beeswax
• Informing ‘hard to reach’ communities about news, events and developments which might affect them e.g. changes in EU regulations concerning honey trade
• Disseminating research results and the latest thinking about apicultural science
• Direct communications e.g. groups request volunteers or answers to specific questions

95% of our readers told us they use the Journal in their work educating other people (Reader Survey 2020)
In a recent survey we asked readers for their feedback about the Journal. They told us they find the Journal useful because:
• it puts them in touch with other beekeeper’s experience, which are a source of inspiration and encouragement
• it provides reliable information on technical aspects of beekeeping and processing
• it helps them train others and stay abreast of beekeeping news and trends
• it keeps them thinking
• it shows that beekeeping is not just about honey
• it broadens their perspectives on beekeeping

As part of the reader survey we also asked people whether they had changed any aspect of their beekeeping or their work as a result of receiving Bees for Development Journal and 76% of respondents said yes, giving the following examples:

• I ensure more community participation in project design
• I have realised the value of beeswax
• I now understand why frame hives might not be the best
• I handle the bees more gently while harvesting
• I have a better understanding of bees’ interaction with environment
• I learned about funding opportunities which allowed me to start a beekeeping project
• I see how to make hives from of all kinds of materials
• I use the information to convince farmers to start beekeeping
• It has helped me improve my teaching
• I am starting to understand the difference between natural and managed approaches to beekeeping

We work hard to publish and disseminate Bees for Development Journal to as many readers as we can. Most of our readers are eligible to receive the Journal free-of-charge. This work is only possible through the receipt of generous donations from many people who willingly support this work.