Abstract
Support to small farmers is at the heart of the fight against poverty. However, the continuous provision of support poses a major challenge which greatly affects the sustainability of development-related projects. Using a research and education approach, in which beekeeping was introduced into the curriculum of two secondary schools, we tested the potential of knowledge transfer as a means of promoting beekeeping. In this paper, we show that, with an educational program tailored to the audience needs, knowledge transfer and self-start-ups ensure better sustainability than material support. We further discuss the implications of these results in the sustenance of beekeeping as a development-related activity.
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Acknowledgments
We gratefully acknowledge Father Elvino Ortolan (Sirima) and Father Romano Filippi (Nairutia) for their invaluable role as cultural mediators and for providing the warmest hospitality and support, Mario Salvalaggio for accompanying us throughout the project, the Banca di Credito Cooperativo Pordenonese and Banca di Credito Cooperativo di San Giorgio e Meduno for financial support as well as the Consorzio degli Apicoltori of Gorizia, Pordenone and Udine, for providing some beekeeping equipment.
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Nazzi, F., Annoscia, D., Del Fabbro, S. et al. Research and education for sustainability in a beekeeping project in sub-Saharan Africa. Environ Dev Sustain 16, 619–632 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-013-9497-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-013-9497-2