(A) Teaching
1. I spent 42 years in teaching since my appointment as a lecturer in 1977. During this period I shouldered and contributed to the development and betterment of the Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Agriculture and the University of Khartoum in different areas.
(a) I shouldered in teaching the following undergraduate courses Zoology 101, General Entomology 201, Apiculture 331, Medical Entomology 303, 332 and Crop Protection 341 during the academic years 1977/1985 and 1998 to date according to the scheduled time table of the Department of Crop Protection, University of Khartoum.
(b) For the first time in Sudan, I submitted a proposal beekeeping course to the Senate of the University to be approved in the syllabus for the students of Crop Protection Dept., Faculty of Agriculture in the academic year 1980.
(c) All Graduate students are eligible to prepare the following essays in the field of Apiculture under my supervision (Please see annex 1) (M.Sc. by research).
(d) I whirred in a post-graduate course Vertebrates and Invertebrates (M.Sc. by courses) for 6 years. 2004/2010.
(e) Teaching commitment was officially added to train employees of the ministry of Education for full academic year in applied apiculture in the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Khartoum during 1981 and 1982. (2 hours lecture and 2 hours practical – average enrollment 45 students annually).
(f) I shared the Faculty of Education, University of Khartoum in teaching Biology and Entomology courses during two academic years 1979/1980 and 1980/1981.
(g) I shared Extra Rural Studies (U. of K.) in teaching Apiculture Diploma courses during three academic years 2005/2006/2007/2008.
(h) I submitted a curriculum for an M.Sc. (Apiculture) degree by courses and research for Sudan Academy of Sciences (2008).
(B) Training
1. On my return (1977), I submitted a proposal to improve beekeeping in Sudan to the National Council for Research (NCR). We started with the reconstruction of the Apiary of the Faculty of Agriculture and the sponsorship of the first two Post-graduate studies (M.Sc.) on Apiculture in the University of Khartoum. Until now 15 graduate students (M.Sc. & Ph.D.) were trained in Apiculture and successfully completed their work and awarded their degree.
2. In 1980 I conducted a thorough survey for suitable localities to establish modern apiaries. This culminated among other things on a submission of a project proposal to FAO to establish beekeeping unit in Northern Sudan. Such project was anticipated to train farmers and to produce honeybee products in addition to provision of package bees and queen honeybees.
3. In 1981 another proposal was submitted to the Near East Foundation – New York (NEF) to assist in promoting modern beekeeping industry in Sudan. This proposal was accepted and NEF began its involvement in collaboration with the NCR. Additional apiary and a small laboratory were constructed in the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Khartoum.
Simultaneously, an experimental modern apiary was established in the Gezira Research Station.
In Northern Sudan, other two apiaries were established in joint collaboration between the ministries of Agriculture in Egypt and Sudan in 1984/1987.
In 1985 the first modern commercial apiary was established in Eastern Sudan sponsored by the UNHCR. Two years later the UNHCR founded another commercial unit in El-Suki Agric. Scheme.
All these modern apiaries were established in potential beekeeping areas to serve as demonstration centres for training interested farmers and traditional honey hunters.
4. During this period 1980/1985, I acted as the Sudan National Beekeeping Project leader. Under the umbrella of this project training of post-graduate students and research work covering different topics were conducted.
4.1 Morphometrical studies of the Sudanese honeybees (Rashad and El Sarrag, 1980 and 1983, Saeed, 1981; Mohamed 1982; Rashad et al., 1984; Mogga, 1988 and El Sarrag et al., 1992).
4.2 Behaviour, biology and management of the bees under different conditions (Gasma 1982, El Sarrag, 1979 and 1984; Garcia 1984, Ambrose 1985 and El Sarrag 1991).
4.3 Breeding programmes of the honeybees in Sudan (Nagi 1984; El Sarrag and Nagi 1984; Nagi 1988 and El Sarrag and Nagi 1989).
4.4 Compositional studies for Sudanese honeys (Ibrahim 1985).
4.5 Pharmacological studies on honey, Venom, Royal Jelly and Propolis (Wadi 1986, El Tahir et al., 1986, 1998a, 1998b and Al-Mufarrej and El Sarrag 1997).
4.6 A comprehensive integrated farming system (Hassan 1988, Musa 1988, Ahmed et al., 1989, Musa et al., 1989 and El Sarrag et al., 1993).
4.7 Pests and diseases attacking Sudanese honeybees (El Sanousi et al., 1987 and Mohamed El-Kheir 1988).
4.8 Moreover, four technicians from different Agricultural Departments were trained in apiculture for a month in the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Khartoum during 1981/82).
4.9 A three-week beekeeping training course for 13 technicians was held at central Sudan. Each of these technicians is now serving a small modern apiary.
4.10 Other ad-hoc training courses for interested farmers were held in different areas with high potential for beekeeping. Many of the trained farmers were helped to establish small apiaries.
4.11 Four technicians were trained in apiculture for six months in Egypt during 1977 to assist in the promoting programmes of apiculture in Sudan. Another technician was also trained for 9 months in Cardiff, U.K. for the same purpose.
(C) Promotion
1. During 1978/1979 I acted as Deputy Dean of Students in the University of Khartoum. I worked closely with my colleagues in the Deanship of students to promote life and welfare of students. We constructed separate hostels for female students in Shambat, Medicine and Education campuses.
Moreover, the number of students benefited from the bursary increased from 150 to 1350 students. We tried to promote the link between our University of King Saud and Kuwait Universities and other areas of the same nature.
2. During 1985/1988 I acted as a expert of Apiculture in the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD), Arab League. During this period:
2.1 I shared in a regional study for promoting beekeeping industry in the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY) which was then sponsored by the Development Islamic Bank in Jeddah.
2.2 We constructed a number of demonstration apiaries, together with their manipulation and management for three successive years.
2.3 We constructed and managed a beekeeping research unit.
2.4 We provided many equipment, materials, chemicals and honeybee colonies.
2.5 A number of training courses were held in most Governorates of PDRY.
2.6 A complete book was written including original research work and observations for promoting Yemeni bee culture.
2.7 As a result of this project foreign trade of PDRY in honey raised up from US$ 2 million in 1985 to US$ 4 million in 1986 o US$ 9 million in 1987.
2.8 I acted as an expert f Apiculture in AOAD and surveyed Djibouti three times 1985 and 1988. I prepared a number of studies for promoting beekeeping industry. A full programme was adopted and sponsored by AOAD including apiary construction, training and management.
2.9 I prepared a feasibility study on beekeeping promotion in Somali Democratic Republic which was accepted to be sponsored by the Development Islamic Bank in 1988.
2.10 I prepared a questionnaire followed by a complete book of apiculture promotion in all Arab Countries published in 1988 by AOAD.
3. During 1987 I acted as the Chairman of SUBA “Sudan Bee and Agriculture Voluntary Association”. This association seeks to promote improvement in the quality of life for rural residents through various activities generating incomes. The association focuses on the development of a viable beekeeping industry through working with farmers and native beekeepers. In its phased programmes, the following is going on: (1) establishment of two production apiaries; (2) working with thirty farmers in their own apiaries; (3) providing the required resources (home-made equipment, technical assistance, credit, bees,…etc.) and (4) helping in increasing production and marketing capabilities for the native beekeepers.
4. During 1988 until 1997 I worked in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, King Saud University, College of Agriculture, Dept. of Plant protection (Please see my academic load annex II).
5. During 1999 I prepared a project proposal for the promotion of the beekeeping industry in Sudan to assist in solving the increasing difficulties of this viable industry. This proposal presented to the Environment and Natural Resource Research Institute (ENRRI). This project may provide a good potential for significant contribution to strengthening Sudan capabilities in science and technology. It would be a starting point for a regional institute of apiculture that aid in the intrinsic Arab and African global strategy. Moreover, a large number of students, post-graduates, technicians and interested people can benefit from it since it has a rich potential for successful application of its results and it has a revolving funds.