N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0
Fiji Beekeepers Association are now accepting applications for their 2021 Mentor Program
Thursday 12
The Fiji Beekeepers Association 2021 Mentor Program is part of key plans to increase economic participation of women in agriculture and strengthen beekeeping skills.
“Mentors will be working side-by-side with their trainee(s) and teach them essential beekeeping skill,” said Fiji Beekeepers Association’s John Caldeira.
“We’re also looking for beginning beekeepers who are interested in receiving beekeeping mentoring, the ideal mentor has six or more years of beekeeping experience.”
“Trainees would normally already have their own beehives and less than six years of beekeeping experience.”
John Caldeira said prospective mentors are encouraged to also nominate inexperienced beekeepers in their area as their trainee(s).
The Fiji Beekeepers Association 2021 Mentor Program is funded by the Farmers’ Organizations for Africa, Caribbean and Pacific – FO4ACP Programme, a joint partnership between the European Union, Africa Caribbean and Pacific (ACP), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Pacific Island Farmers Organisation Network (PIFON).
How The Program Works
Mentors and trainees sign a mentoring agreement with FBA for the knowledge transfer of specific basic beekeeping skills to be taught during 6 or more apiary mentoring visits in 2021. Skills include hive inspections, management for honey production, harvesting, basic bee breeding, and disease and parasite control.
Mentors are not paid. However, FBA will provide mentors and trainees with some unassembled hive parts for teaching/learning hive assembly and colony splitting, other training materials, and coaching and monitoring of the program.
FBA’s Mentor program was established in 2016 and has been internationally recognized as a successful model for improving beekeeper success.
Fijian beekeepers interested in being a mentor or a trainee should request a simple one-page application form by FB private message, or reply to this announcement, or email to John Caldeira at email john@outdoorplace.org.
Applications must be submitted by Sunday, December 13.
Technical support and monitoring of the program will be assisted by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).