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CHITORA PRIMARY SCHOOL SERIOUSLY VENTURE INTO APICULTUREBEEKEEPING FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTChitora Primary school is located about 26 km from Rusape along Rusape –Inyati road. The school also is adequately covered by exotic (Eucalyptus) and indigenous (Musasa, Mukute, Mutondo) trees that provide nectar and pollen sources. As you can see from the cover photo there is a gum plantation (Eucalyptus grandis) close to the school that can provide nectar for bees. Chitora ventured into a beekeeping project some years back but the project could not go far because of lack of skills and knowledge and poor management practices. The current situation shows that the occupancy ratio is at 10% where only one hive is colonised out of ten visited. Bee hives have been set in trees which made them prone to ants, snakes, beetles, mice, lizards attacks. Still beekeeping remain a lazy man’s business where extra income can be earned without putting a lot of energy and money into it. Nowadays it is very common for schools to run out of money to buy chalks, exercise books, pens, soccer and netballs which is not a health situation. School fees alone does not adequately address the school’s financial obligations . The Zim-Asset programme has been left to farmers and organisations with schools just look and understand it from the academic point of view where they must produce knowledgeable students. It is from this background that Chitora Primary school has taken a move to challenge the education sector through venturing into Apiculture and practically support the Zim-Asset programme. Through beekeeping in schools the following economic importance will be realised:Pollination of agricultural crops at the schoolImprovement of the schools economic conditionBees wax is valuable and is used to make candles, cosmetics, polish etc. And these will be sold for cashAs the apiary number increases there is room for employment creationTrading in bee products is likely to open up new external markets with the exporting country earning foreign currency.Beekeeping supports the environment through preserving flora and faunaIt is very easy to be integrated with crop farmingCan be done on waste land and less fertile soilsBeekeeping supports food security and nutrition and the health of human beings.Land ownership is not an issueAnyone can be a beekeeperBeekeeping is also associated with some health benefits such as:Honey has been used to inhibit the growth of Streptococcus pyogenes, a bacteria that causes sore throatBees wax has antibiotic properties and can be used to treat arthritis and nasal inflammation.Propolis is well known to have medicinal properties and has been proved scientifically. It has bactericidal, fungicidal and antiviral effectsPollen is not used as medicinal drug but is used in traditional medicine for such aspects as prostate problemsBee venom can be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and tendon, strain and muscle injuries.Links to economic and sustainable development as a schoolUse proper bee equipmentMake sure hives are set properlyMake sure management of the apiary is done properlyHoney must be properly harvested and hygienically taken to a selling pointMake sure standards are followed; quality and systems certification are done.Bees cannot stay in such an open hive. Top bars are poorly installed and not of the right size. Such installation of a bee hive attracts ants, snakes, mice, lizards, beetles into the hive. It is also not safe to work from such a height especially during honey harvesting. The height also scares women to participate in beekeepingThe top cover of this hive does not have a plastic or metal sheet to stop rain from getting into the hive. The hive is not properly secured.Old hives with rotten timber which were poorly constructed and left unattended. This result is from lack of knowledge and management skills.After attending several beekeeping meetings Mr Charles Machowa who is also the deputy headmaster of Chitora Primary School thought of reintroducing a more focused approach to beekeeping at the school with support coming from the association members. He is a member of Makoni Beekeepers association and has also pushed for the registration of the school to be a member of the association. The headmistress of the school is also in full support of the venture. The full support has been evidenced by a quick establishment of an apiary at the school which so far has six standard Kenyan top bar hives. Chitora apiary as it is named will be a role model apiary for many schools within Makoni District.Mr Machowa has attended several workshops, look and learn tours conducted by the Makoni Beekeepers Association , Standard Association of Zimbabwe and the International Trade Centre and this has put him at a level where he can also encourage other schools to take part in the beekeeping venture. So far in Makoni we have three schools that have registered as members with MBKA. The other schools include Chitsva Secondary School and Chiundu Secondary School.With the knowledge he has Mr Machowa has managed to establish CHITORA APIARY at his school.Mr Machowa inserts the KTB hive in a supporting frame tied to greased plain wires. The grease on the wires will trap ants and won’t get into the hive.Some of the children from Chitora Primary School already getting knowledge about Beekeeping from their teacher Mr Charles Machowa. The children assisted in the laying out of the school apiary. “You cannot separate bees from the environment, health,money, food and nutrition”, that is the message from their teacher. “CHITORA APIARY- FOR THE SCHOOL’S DEVELOPMENT”“FOR THE SCHOOL’S DEVELOPMENT- CHITORA APIARY”“BEES FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION, MONEY AND HEALTH”BY ROBERT MUTISI ................
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