Virtual reality set to play a key role in the training of Zimbabwe's beekeepers

The Naledi3d Factory team with Mr Chigere (right), Zimbabwe's foremost bee trainer and other beekeepers at the Agritex Training Centre, Dombeshawa, near Harare. The Kenya Top Bar Hive - suited to the environment and the African Honey Bee loves them. Busy little bees - this is what it is all about, keeping the bees happy so that they make honey.

The Naledi3d Factory, a recent graduate from the Business Incubator at The Innovation Hub, has embarked on their latest African community development project - the training of beekeepers in Zimbabwe. The project is sponsored by the Kellogg Foundation and supported by World Links Southern Africa, who will evaluate the effectiveness of the models at several multipurpose centres in Zimbabwe.

This pilot project is the first of a range of agricultural subjects that will be addressed through virtual reality (VR) and will also raise awareness in the ability of VR to successfully transfer farming skills. The targeted user includes emergent farmers as well as those who farm on communal lands in Zimbabwe. Communal land covers 46% of Zimbabwean agricultural land, which is typically farmed as small-holdings and has never been occupied by white farmers.

The system will ultimately be used to educate prospective and existing beekeepers in Zimbabwe in the basics and best practices of beekeeping. Along with other cash crops such as paprika and tomato's, beekeeping has been identified as crops that has a ready market, is relatively easy to cultivate, and can generate an income for the farmer.

The Naledi3d Factory Managing Director, Dave Lockwood, indicated that elements of the system would include:

• Swarm start-up and management - selecting a hive, attracting bees, erecting a bee house, selecting a good location for the hive - taking water, flora, enemies, temperature control, first aid requirements into account.
• Equipment and clothing - protective suits, hive tool, bee brush, scraper, smoker, hives (focussing on the Kenya Top bar Hive and how to build them)
• Harvesting - techniques to remove the honey from the hive and storage
• Marketing - understanding how to market and sell honey in Zimbabwe.

"In addition," says Lockwood, "the system will include a section called "Digging Deeper", which will provide more in-depth knowledge on related topics (including relevant documentation, links to other web sites, etc) for those who wish to acquire more information. The Naledi3d Factory will develop the programme, while the evaluation (and later the distribution) will be undertaken by World Links Southern Africa.

This project is the fourth African community-based project undertaken by the Naledi3d Factory. Others, with the support of UNESCO have included basic hygiene in Uganda, HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia, and employment awareness for the youth of Alexandra, near Johannesburg.

"We aim to expand this important initiative to other fields in agricultural production and have also identified many other areas, especially in health, technical skills and heritage where VR can be used to educate and empower our disadvantaged communities. We are continually looking for the right partners and sponsors to work with us," says Lockwood.

For more information contact Dave Lockwood at the Naledi3d Factory at
Tel: +27 (0)12 844 1010
Cell: +27 (0)82 894 3178

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