IT has been a long way to come for the two newest members of Bees for Development, a pair of Commonwealth Fellows from Africa.

The Monmouth based charity is hosting Dr Michael Adjaloo from Ghana and Allon Bomujuni from Uganda as part of the program which provides the opportunity for professionals to enhance knowledge and skills in their given sector.

Dr Adjaloo is a senior research fellow and director of the Technology Consultancy Centre (TCC) at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), he has contributed to the development of beekeeping in Ghana, and other African countries including Malawi.

Mr Bomujuni works for The Uganda National Apiculture Development Organisation (TUNADO) which is responsible for coordinating the beekeeping industry in Uganda.

The two will be working with Bees for Development to learn about their organisation, the sustainable and community beekeeping the organisation focus on and how to develop beekeeping.

Dr Adjaloo said “It has been really good, we have been exposed to the concept of sustainable beekeeping which I think is very valuable to us.

“My main interest is in the issue of product development which is something which is very fascinating

“If the beeswax is not properly used, in some cases they just throw it away, I have seen products that are developed here wich we can introduce and expand the industry and get more people involved especially women which can reduce poverty.”

Mr Bomujuni is hoping to apply some of this to the youth in Uganda. He said: “When you look at the beekeeping back in Uganda we have youth involved in it and we have been struggling to find what things can attract them to beekeeping.

“Coming here I have realised there are things that the youth can get involved in by doing things related to beekeeping such as designing cups, aprons and table mats, these are things that look trendy to them so they can do that rather than carrying hives.

“In Uganda compared to what I have seen, is people do beekeeping as a hobby which is different to what we do.

“Ugandan people do beekeeping as an income generating activity, mostly the women and the youth.”

Both of the fellows will be in Monmouth until November continuing to work with Bees for Development and learn about beekeeping in the UK.