Date: Wed, 10 Jan 2001 11:05:36 -0500
To: "Jill D. Wright" <[log in to unmask]>
From: "Dr. Malcolm (Tom) Sanford" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Beekeeping in Kazakhstan
Cc: [log in to unmask]
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Jill,
Don't really know where to start. There are several Internet sites that
feature international information:
http://www.beekeeping.com/apiservices/index_us.htm
http://www.beekeeping.com/bees-for-development/bees_and_development.htm
http://www.apiconsult.com/index.html concentrates on Africa
http://www.cf.ac.uk/ibra/
As for donations, you can try:
http://bee.airoot.com/beeculture/
http://www.dadant.com/
http://www.beekeeping.com/thomas/index_us.htm
Although internatinal expertise is important, most necessary will be
finding beekeepers in the region who are successful and begin by doing what
they are doing.
I am sending this to the bee-l discussion list. Perhaps there is someone
there who can help you. I am asking my colleagues on the list to
communicate directly with Ms. Wright at [log in to unmask]
Tom Sanford
At 10:18 PM 1/9/01 -0500, you wrote:
Dear Dr. Sanford,
I have found your articles in Bee Culture to be very helpful. I have a very
unique situation that I would appreciate your advise about. My family has
some dear friends who are Christian missionaries to the Uighur people of
Kazakhstan. They have begged my father and me for the last 2 years now to
assist them by coming over for a short term mission trip to help a couple
of the new believers there establish beekeeping as a home industry or small
business. They are continually looking for opportunities to help the people
learn to be self supportive and productive. This seems to be a difficult
transition from relying on their former Communist government for jobs. They
would like us to come this spring. I have a million questions before we can
make a decision. They continue to assure me that they are not looking for
expertise, just a bit of experience and the desire to be used of God.
My understanding is that Kazakhstan is a former soviet republic that is
mostly Muslim. Their location is near China at the same approximate
latitude as the Great Lakes. Economic hardships are severe there and most
of the merchandising is done at outdoor markets. The most common languages
are Uighur, Russian and Kazakh. Some also speak Uzbek, Kirghiz, and
Turkish. Gratefully, there will be interpreters available.
We need to learn much more about the market in the Almaty, Kazakhstan area
for bee products; prevalence of bee diseases; climate and foliage; local
availability versus shipping involved to purchase bees, instructional
material, supplies and equipment. It would be awful to start them on
something that would be impossible to sustain.
Would you have any advise on how to go about such a project? Where do we
begin to find the information we need? Could you recommend anyone who has
international beekeeping experience? Do you think any US companies would be
willing to donate supplies for us to ship in advance? Perhaps you know some
contacts that would be helpful. Would you be willing to be an email
consultant if we do get over there and need some advise?
Thanks for your help,
Jill Wright, <[log in to unmask]>
6196 W US RT 224
FINDLAY, OH 45840