Only three cases of coronavirus are confirmed in Wuhan on March 7th, and all patients are overseas travelers. As the situation turns better, local departments are suggested to set up a special mechanism to facilitate bee farmers to transfer under the strict policy in the coronavirus outbark.
On March 4th, the Working Group of Disease Prevention and Work Resumption of China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) received a swift response from the officer of Yichang City, Hubei Province in less than one hour after sending an official letter to Hubei provincial disease prevention and control authority on supporting Hubei bee farmers who are blocked in other provinces to transfer. The officer promised to help those farmers who are unable to obtain the certificate of receipt to get back to their hometown, Wuhan.
At the end of February, CBDGDF learned a large number of Hubei bee farmers blocked in Yunnan, Guizhou, Hunan and Henan provinces cannot find ways to get back to hometown. The Working Group of Disease Prevention and Work Resumption of CBCGDF took instant actions to help beekeepers in northern Xinjiang and Hubei beekeepers stuck in multiple provinces to transfer. It is estimated that more than one-half of the over 200 bee farmers are blocked in Kunming, Yunnan province, and the other half scattered in Guizhou, Hunan, Sichuan, and Henan provinces. On Feb 27th, the Working Group sent the first letter to Hubei provincial disease prevention and control department, requesting to urgently simplify the procedure for those farmers to transfer. Then, some bee farmers in Jinmen City, Hubei Province were able to take the trip to hometown after obtaining a health certificate and certificate of receipt.
The news that there are farmers arrived at Wuhan brings hope to other beekeepers. "As the weather is getting warmer these days and the fluorescence is approaching to end, an increasing number of bees will die given the overconsumption of chemicals if beekeepers continue to be stuck locally and cannot transfer to the nearest nectar." The main reason that impedes the transfer of farmers and bees lies in the reality that the local village committee feels unobligated to issue the official certificate of receipt without gaining instructions from the above authorities. So, farmers used to spend considerable time on contacting authorities at different levels one by one. In early March, the Working Group of CBCGDF helped to contact disease prevention departments of Yichang City, Shishou City, Yicheng City, and Gongan County, hoping to fasten the process of issuing the certificate but didn't receive a clear reply. Municipal disease prevention and control department, authority in charge of transportation, and agricultural office are involved in the process.
On March 4th, the Working Group of CBCGDF sends its second official letter to Hubei provincial disease prevention and control department, seeking assistance in smoothing beekeepers transfer. CBCGDF listed a set of statistics: about 130 bee farmers are unable to return to their hometown, 44 of which from Dangyang City, 2 Yiyi District, 13 Shishou City, 50 Gongan County, 1 Jianli County, 6 Shayang County, 2 Dongbao District, and 6 Yicheng City.
On March 4th, Hubei provincial disease prevention and control department took swift action after receiving the second letter by CBCGDF, requesting the provincial agricultural and transportation department to work on solutions with multiple local municipal disease prevention offices. On March 5th, CBCGDF received the call from the provincial disease department to learn the biggest challenge for beekeepers to transfer, and the staff confirmed to facilitate the local disease prevention office to solve the problem as soon as possible.
In the afternoon of March 4th, officials of Yiling District, Yichang City, Hubei Province communicated with CBCGDF. On the morning of March 5th, officials of Dangyang County, Yichang City, confirmed the list of farmers blocked in other provinces and urged the corresponding village to issue certificates. On March 6th, the disease prevention, and control department of Dongbao District, Jingmen City assigned officials to contact the Working Group of CBCGDF and confirmed the information of two farmers who are in its jurisdiction.
From March 5th to 7th, beekeepers who have obtained the certificate of receipt and health certificate began to migrate to the hometown.
“Thank CBCGDF so much for your efforts at helping all of us to get back…” Liu Xiaomei, the first beekeeper to return to her hometown, Shayang County, Jingmen City under the assistance of CBCGDF, expressed her sincere appreciation through social media.
(Photo credit: Bee keepers)
Original Chinese article:
http://www.cbcgdf.org/NewsShow/4854/11572.html
By / Wang Yanqing