KY ADT visits Kapisa DAIL, inspects hives

KAPISA PROVINCE, Afghanistan -- The Kentucky Agribusiness Development Team visited the Kapisa Director of Agriculture Irrigation and Livestock to check on the progress of their bee hive project here July 6.

The bee hive project, which was started in 2009 by the ADT to help provide women with a source of income from the sale of honey, was inspected by U.S. Army Capt. Bobbie Mayes, women’s empowerment coordinator for the KY ADT, and Sulhaila Kohistani, the DAIL director of women’s affairs.

“The hives have grown better this year than last year, and the sale of honey looks very promising,” said Kohistani. She recently sent two jars to India for testing in hopes of creating a new market for the sale of their honey.

Mayes, a Lawrenceburg, Ky., resident started learning the art of keeping bees as a 3-year-old with her father in Frankfort, Ky. With her experience, she had a few suggestions to improve the hives.

“A quick coat of white paint to the outside of the hives would prevent moisture from getting into the wood and causing mold on the inside,” she said.

Mayes also explained how bees don’t like dark colors and that a keeper should not wear dark clothes around the hives. “I remember seeing my father run once from the bees because he had on dark clothes,” she said.
 
Mayes and Kohistani discussed the possibility of other agricultural projects that could be started to benefit women such as growing saffron, mushrooms and soy beans. Kohistani wants to direct these projects to three types of women: widows, the poor and those who want to venture into their own business.