2009 October 03 « Uganda Honey

Flashbacks………………..

Talking to Minister regarding the consequences of importing bees.

International exposure for Ugandan beekeepers.

October 3, 2009 Posted by Lesster | apiculture, bee colony, bee hive, beekeeping journal, Beeswax candles, honey, honey byproduct, propolis, raw honey, Sustainable Beekeeping | Baguma Isoke, bee farmer, bee importation, beekeeper, commercial beekeepers, Honey production, honey talk, traditional beehive | Leave a comment

Last year was a year of filming. After the media team from Singapore left, another TV media crew from Japan came and did a documentary. I was invited to assist them in calming the bees before the filming. They had no idea that the African bees were so aggressive. The camera man got stung and he nearly fainted. He applied insect repellent prior to the filming without checking with me, thinking that would repel the bees. On the contrary, bees hate scents. We had to go around the villages a few time to identify a suitable colony for filming. By the time the shoot was over, it was coming to 11pm.

The main objective for this filming is to showcase the possibilities of bees by-product, beeswax. After the harvesting of beeswax, the crew proceed to an orphanage in the North which was funded by Japanese NGO. The orphans were taught how to use beeswax to make crayons.

I had to leave them for other commitment after making sure that they were not injured during the engagement with the bees.

TV crew from Japan.

Taking a deep breath before getting close to the hive.

In action.

It took quite some time for the host of the program to pluck up the courage to approach the bees.

It took quite some time for the host of the program to pluck up his courage to approach the bees.

October 3, 2009 Posted by Lesster | apiculture, bee colony, bee hive, Beekeeping, beekeeping journal, beekeeping training, Beeswax candles | Apiary, beekeeper, beeswax, filming, good honey, Honey production, Japan NGO, traditional beehive, TV crew | Leave a comment

About

COMPANY PROFILE

EastWest Innovations Uganda Limited (EWI) began its operations in Uganda since 2001 with the purpose of developing the Uganda Honey trade as a viable supplement income for the Ugandan farmers, with sustainable beekeeping as its modus operandi.

Today, EWI is a recognized source for providing pure, unadulterated honey. Since mid-2005, every batch of honey harvested, samples were sent to University of Hohenheim for Mellisopalynology and has met the rigorous European Honey legislation and the Commission’s Food Safety standard. Over the years we have maintained this standards through our continuous effort to educate and training of our local beekeepers.

With emphasis on quality honey exporting to EU, Switzerland, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore, EWI attained the prestigious “President’s Export Award” in 2006.