Bees for Development Journal
74
PRACTICAL BEEKEEPING
Practical Beekeeping
Top-bar hives in Eastern Senegal André Romet Apiculteurs Sans Frontières, France
It is a beautiful location for beekeeping, with over 70 traditional beekeepers living around the 12 villages of Oubadji. The French association, Dia-Dia, has been
involved in many activities with these villagers since 1999. A group of trainee beekeepers, keen to improve their harvesting methods, recently called upon Apiculteurs Sans Frontières for assistance. The trainees wanted to avoid burning the hives to reach the honey and the brood; to help them, a three-week training session was organised in December 2004. Nineteen beekeepers, both Peuls and Bassaris took part in the training. They chose to use a modified top-bar hive for a model; the wooden bases and the two smaller sides were cut in Dakar and brought to the village, whilst the taller sides, roof and top-bars were all constructed in situ, made from raffia palm. Thirty-two hives were built and shared amongst the trainees, who placed them around the countryside. These were promptly inhabited by the numerous wild swarms found in the Park Savannah.
Building the hives
Building the hives
The wooden base and two smaller hive sides were made in Dakar and brought to the village. The taller sides, roof and top-bars were all constructed locally.
Top-bars are made from raffia palm
In eastern Senegal, south of Niokolo Koba Park, you will find the lush vegetation of a wooded savannah, which despite yearly bush fires remains exceptionally dense.
All images © André Romet
However, the inhabitants of these territories, the local Peuls and Bassaris people are very poor. Their villages are completely isolated during the rainy season which can last up to six months. The nearest shop and market are 30 km away in Senegal, or 18 km in Guinea.
4
