Bees for Development Journal Edition 86 - March 2008

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BEES FOR DEVELOPMENT

Bees/or Development Journal 86

ISSUE NO 86, MARCH 2008

IN PRAISE

OF BEESWAX

Beeswax is one of nature’s amazing materials. Human societies have long valued beeswax, and today it remains an expensive product with many uses. Yet some beekeepers remain unaware of the value of beeswax, and even throw it away. What waste that represents, for bees consume around eight kilograms of honey to produce just one kilogram of beeswax.

Beeswax is made by young worker honey bees. It is secreted as a liquid from four pairs of wax glands on the ventral surface of the abdominal tergites (plates on the underside of a bee’s body). The liquid wax spreads over the surface of these plates, and, on contact with air, the wax hardens and forms a tiny wax scale on each tergite, which can be seen as a small flake of wax on the underside of the bee. A worker honey bee produces eight of these scales of wax every 12 hours.

POL Mercy Timba. Chair of Mbawemi Women’s Co-operative Sociely, shows Harrison Kaluwa, President of the Malawi Chamber of Commerce, a display of items produced during the training course in Bee products and value addition run by Bees for Development in Mzuzu.

CONTENTS In

page

praise of beeswax

.... ..

;

2

Bee product diversification and value addition.

3

The role of women, and indigenous knowledge in Ethiopian beekeeping

4

Increasing marketing opportunities 6

inEthiopia

a

Trees Bees Use.

Zoom in on Liberia.

Notice Board

;

10 11

News Around the World Varroa in Nigeria.

7

8

.

;

About one million of these wax scales are needed to make one kilogram of wax. Bees use the stiff hairs on their hind legs to remove the scales of wax and pass them on to the middle legs, and then to the mandibles (jaws) where wax is chewed, and salivary secretions become mixed with the wax. When it is the right consistency, the new wax is used for comb construction or used to seal honey cells. Bees are stimulated to produce wax when there is a surplus of honey to be stored and a lack of honey comb in which tc Store it.

Beeswax is a valuable product that can provide a beekeeper with worthwhile income in addition to honey. One kilogram of beeswax is worth more than one kilogram of honey, and unlike honey, beeswax is not a food product and is simpler to deal with, not requiring careful packaging: this greatly simplifies its storage and transport. Beeswax as an income generating resource is too often neglected. Some African countries where fixed comb beekeeping is still the norm, for example, Ethiopia and Angola, have significant beeswax exports, while in others the trade is neglected and beeswax is discarded.

Worldwide, many honey hunters and beekeepers do not know that beeswax can be sold or used for locally made, high-value products, yet as shown here, rendering of beeswax and the creation of candles and other secondary products can be a useful way for people to add value and create high quality articles for sale. No candle is more beautiful nor has a more delicious aroma - than a lustrous candle made from pure, golden beeswax.

Nicola Bradbear

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Look & Learn Ahead.

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Information service for developing

countries Bees for Development Journal Published quarterly by Bees for Development.

Fditor Nicola Bradbear PhD Co-ordinator Helen Jackson BSc Copyright: As part of our Information Service you are welcome to translate and/or reproduce items appearing in BfD/ Permission is given on the understanding that: B/D/ and author(s) are acknowledged. our contact details are provided in full, and you send us a copy of the item or the website address where it is used.

Bees/or Development Post

PO Box 105, Monmouth NP25 9AA, UK

Phone

+44 (0)16007 13648

info@beesfordevelopment.org www. beesfordevelopment.org

Mbawemi women lighting their beeswax candles and comparing with a shop-bought paraffin candle

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BEE PRODUCT DIVERSIFICATION

AND VALUE ADDITION

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Mbawemi Women’s Co-operative Society in Malawi are dedicated to setting an example to others by proving themselves to be

successful women entrepreneurs.

Bees for Development has helped them on their way by training them in value addition, product diversification and the marketing of bee products.

The training was part of the Government of Malawi’s women empowerment programme, and funded by the Special Advisory Services ision of the Commonwealth Secretariat. In a previous phase of the uject, the Mbawemi Women's Co-operative Society were supplied with hives and trained in beekeeping. The long-term aim is for them to produce their own bee products for processing, and also to train other ,

women.

This training programme was delivered in Mzuzu by Bees for Development's Janet Lowore in November and December 2007, and consisted of a strategic overview of marketing opportunities for Malawi bee products, plus a two-week practical course for 28 women entrepreneurs.

The market overview revealed that the demand for attractively presented table honey is now higher in Malawi than ever before, with supermarkets and tourist shops often unable to source supplies to match demand.

The demand for quality beeswax candles is also significant, with craft shops and tourist outlets always on the lookout for new suppliers. The market conditions seem good for the Co-operative.

The training course started with theory, with lectures on honey and bee products, diversification and the idea of value addition covered in detail.

Unwever, all participants were eager to move on to the hands-on

tical sessions of rendering and filtering beeswax, making candles, skin balms and propolis tincture.

The greatest successes were the dipped candles. This was a method completely new both to the group members and to our local facilitator,

Mbawemi women using plastic pipes as moulds for beeswax candles

Course participants preparing to strain crushed honey comb

who have previously known only about candles made in moulds. The wax that was bought from local beekeepers, in both processed and

unprocessed form, was of the highest quality and lovely to work with.

The course generated so much interest within Mzuzu that even before ihe end of the course, the group were receiving orders for candles!

Other products made during the Course included skin balm, polish and propolis tincture. The participants spent time working out the cost of

each product they made, and discussed possible sale prices given different target markets. This session generated much discussion as participants learned how some products sometimes enable higher profit

margins than others, and that testing prices in the market place is all part of the business development process.

At the close of the Course, the group resolved to focus on making high quality candles. In addition to wax and wicks, candles require few other materials. This is important because many ingredients required for other processes are not easily available in Mzuzu. Furthermore, unlike honey, candles do not need to be put in containers. In Malawi, only poor quality PVC honey jars are available and as these often leak, this limits opportunities for producing a high quality honey product for retail sale. The demand for beeswax candles is high in Malawi. as they are

much sought after as ‘made-in-Malawi’ gifts for visitors.

Course participants with dipped candles

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THE ROLE OF WOMEN, AND

INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE

IN

ETHIOPIAN BEEKEEPING Kerealem Ejigu, Andassa Livestock Research Centre, Bahir Dar; Nuru Adgaba, Holeta Bee Research Centre and Wagayehu Bekele, Department of Agricultural Economics,

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Alemaya University, Ethiopia Ris

Beekeeping is an important activity for many rural people - both men and women - and is carried out in home gardens and houses all

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over Ethiopia.

Traditionally, there are no cultural taboos that forbid the involvement of women in beekeeping. However, women’s participation is often little or

non-existent. Therefore, the promotion of income-generating activities for women and their role in beekeeping raises interesting issues. When we explore the possibility of promoting beekeeping amongst Ethiopian

women, the first step is to discover the factors that limit them from keeping bees. many parts of Ethiopia there are local beekeepers who are highly respected for their skills in handling honey bees. Though Ethiopian beekeepers have rich indigenous knowledge, as Fichtl and Addi (1994) In

indicated, skills and knowledge are transferred from one generation to the next and only improved by trial and error: biological knowledge is confined to immediate observations and repeated experience.

Materials and methods This study was conducted in Enebse and Amaro. The town of Enebse, Mertule Mariam, is 370 km northwest of Addis Ababa, at an altitude of 2,400 m. The town of Amaro, Kelle, is 478 km south of Addis Ababa, at an altitude of 1,850 m.

Ninety beekeeper farmers were chosen by random sampling techniques.

Both primary and secondary sources of data were used in this study.

The primary data for the year 2003/04 were collected from sample

respondents during October-November 2004 through a semi-structured questionnaire. This was designed to generate data on some social, institutional, and economic variabies. Secondary data were obtained from various sources. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data.

According to this survey, no women beekeepers were found in Amaro.

In Enebse female beekeepers were interviewed, but their numbers were limited. The results of this survey indicate that in Enebse, 6.7% of the beekeepers are women (Table 1).

1.

Female

Male

Number

%

| 100.0

0

0.0

93.3

3

6.7

Number

%

Number

Amaro

45

100

45

Enebse

45

100

42

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Wubit, one of the few woman beekeepers in Enebse. Amhara Region, can

construct top-bar hives.

The reasons given for low or non-existence of the participation by women were: women are afraid of bees and wild animals; they cannot

climb trees; beekeeping is considered a ‘man's occupation’. Moreover, as with other economic activities, the traditional ways of living restrict women to carrying out domestic activities close to the homestead, and this hinders women from keeping bees.

Even though men are mostly involved in beekeeping activities, women commonly use the products of beekeeping in making secondary

products. For example, the important industry of ‘tej’ (honey wine) making in Ethiopia is run by women. Elsewhere in Africa it is often women who brew and sell honey beer (Bradbear, 2002). Women also play a role in the honey selling in Enebse, but this was not common in Amaro. According to an Agri-Service Ethiopia, Amaro Integrated Food Security Program (ASE AIFSP 2002) base line survey, in Amaro, the selling of coffee, food crops, livestock and honey were predominant, carried out by men, although in some cases there was consultation with their wives. Women’s decisions were limited to selling hens and eggs, milk and butter, and Ensete veniricosum products.

The Ethiopian Government and NGOs encourage women’s participation in rural development. ASE provided material and technical assistance for a women’s group to be given training in basic beekeeping. They

%

Some of the women undertake the beekeeping activities confidently.

However, a few women beekeepers interviewed in Enebse explained that they had become dependent on assistance from men for colony transfer, queen catching, and harvesting the crop. These management activities are also a problem for men who are beginner beekeepers. ASE and other developmental organisations could have been more successful if the women were given both theoretical and practical

Gender of beekeepers in the study areas

Place | Total

ve

were encouraged to construct top-bar hives and to make beekeeping tools and veils.

The role of women in beekeeping

Table

##

training in basic beekeeping methods and supplied with affordable and appropriate beekeeping technology in the form of top-bar hives with full accessories and protective clothing. This may be one step towards helping women to generate income in the rural areas. In addition, the

placement of hives suitable for women to use has to be developed and tested with users in local conditions.

Bees/orDevelopment Journal 86

WOMEN BEEKEEPERS IN ETHIOPIA

Women and women’s groups can be in good positions to carry out the processing of honey and beeswax to secondary products. Their excessive workload and childcare commitments require women to remain close to homesteads and to integrate livelihood activities with these commitments. Support to enable women to learn to process raw bee products into good quality secondary products that can be made in village settings, may be an ideal opportunity for income generation.

Beekeepers’ knowledge Indigenous beekeeping knowledge, like other culture, is transferred between generations, although some important improvements to this knowledge are made from time to time. Our survey revealed that beekeepers have the following indigenous knowledge: 1.

Knowledge of plants utilised by bees, their flowering times, and plants poisonous to bees

The beekeepers of the study areas have an intensive knowledge of herbs, shrubs and trees growing in their surroundings. They identity most of the plants and give detailed descriptions of their use as bee plants. Based on this, the beekeepers can differentiate the beekeeping calendars for their areas.

‘shimbrie’ and

4. Methods

of controlling diseases and predators

This involves the use of smoking cotton cloth or Ofestegia integrifola.

In Enebse it is forbidden fo inspect or disturb the colony at the end of the rainy seasons because ‘worms’ will be created and damage the colony. They also control pests and predators from attacking their colony using different methods. In Amaro, for instance, by fastening corrugated iron or animal fats on the bark of the trees containing honey bee colonies, the beekeepers discourage the honey badger from attacking their colonies.

5. Considerable indigenous knowledge concerning

black or dark-coloured bees known

is very difficult to consider the varieties of bees according to their colours, because it is common to get both yellow and black coloured varieties in the same colony that are reared It

from a single queen. However, based on recent work, the geographical races or subspecies of honey bees in Enebse and Amaro are

Apis mellifera bandasii and Apis mellifera scutellata, respectively (Amssalu et a/, 2004).

3. Handling of swarms

The experienced beekeeper in the study areas will try to catch a swarm and put it on to the ground where he can carefully look for the queens.

For trapping swarms using a bait hive, the beekeepers commonly use swarm attractant materials, mostly plants. A few beekeepers reported ‘

"they used the method of cutting part of the wing of the queen to Ice absconding. They also know different methods to control swarming to avoid successive division of the colony. For instance beekeepers in Enebse used the removal of queen cells or smoking of

(See references for more details) 6. Knowledge of time for honey harvest and how to use honey in

medicine and social contexts

higher price.

The following points may be considered as local innovations: 1. In Amaro, beekeepers select trees that bear flowers to attract wild swarms. That means they know what plants can be used for attracting wild bees to bait hives. They also know well how to climb up and fix

hives in the upper branches of tall smooth trees to prevent predators from getting access to the hive. Also, some innovative beekeepers construct an opening at one side of the log hives that is used for harvesting honey without disturbing much of the colony and then it is likely to survive for the next season.

2. In Enebse, modifications are made to top-bar hives for convenience of smoking with the local-style smoker. Most farmers

adapted the initial hive design to suit their own purposes, revealing the way they were integrating the new type of hives into their existing

practices.

Acknowledgements We would like to thank the enumerators for their technical assistance and the beekeeper farmers who co-operated with us in supplying relevant information. Also Agri-Service Ethiopia for financia!, technical and material support during the study.

fa

Behind her home. Wubit has two top-bar hives with colonies and (in the Wubit has made the hives from foreground) two newly constructed top-bar hives.

cow dung, clay and ash.

local materials for

hive making, smoking, and placement of hives

the Ethiopian calendar) has a high medicinal value and it will fetch a

beekeepers in both Amaro and Enebse agreed that there are different races of bees used in local beekeeping. Their description of each variety was categorised in two groups and this result agrees with other studies (Hoyle, 1993). These are red or yellow coloured bees known

locally as wanzie' or

construct new queen cells.

People believe that honey harvested at ‘Tikmit Estifanos’ (17 October in

«nowledge about bees

as ‘shanko’ ot ‘tikurie’

incense and ‘wegert’ (a shrub used also as smoking materials for milk containers) to prevent a colony from undergoing reproductive swarming, hence it becomes strong and productive during that season. Their opinion is that: ‘the smoke makes the colony sterile’, that is, it cannot

Abba Mohammed with his local-style smoker

BEEKEEPING IN ETHIOPIA

References

AMSSALU,B.; ADGABA,N.; RADLOFF,S.E.; HEPBURN,H.R. (2004).

Multivariate morphometric analysis of honeybees (Apis mellifera L) the Ethiopian region. Apidologie 35: 71-84.

in

ASE AIFSP (2002) Baseline Survey Report. Amato Special Wereda Project Office, Kelle, Ethiopia. pp.1-59.

N. (2002) Beekeeping and sustainable livelihoods.

Strengthening livelihoods: exploring the role of beekeeping in development. Bees for Development, Monmouth, UK.

BRADBEAR,

In:

FICHTL,R.; ADDI,A. (1994) Honeybee flora of Ethiopia. Margraf Verlag, Weikersheim, Germany.

HOYLE, E. (1993). Beekeeping in Welaita, North Omo. Farmers’ Research Project Technical Pamphlet No 4. Farm Africa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Tsehay and net husband Sides at kenisse it Amhatd Tysehay has 14 frame hives and three local style hives. She is a successful beekeeper. Sindew is a civil

Further reading

servant.

Bee products in Ethiopia Bees for Development Journal 82 Chalk brood in Ethiopia Bees for Development Journal 78 Spotlight on Ethiopia Bees for Development Journal 73

INCREASING MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES IN AMHARA REGION ETHIOPIA Development and marketing We estimate that Ethiopia contributes 24% of African and 2% of the world’s total honey production. In the Amhara Region alone, there are 650,000-700.000 honey bee colonies and about 819,000 local, 55,000 top-bar, and 44,000 frame hives in the hands of 230,000 beekeepers.

Despite the long held traditional beekeeping practices in the region, the benefit gained from the apiculture sub sector is insignificant. This is mainly due to the absence of any policy framework and regulation, limited local and overseas markets, and the absence of a secondary processing industry that could add values and diversity to bee products.

We believe that the setting up of primary and secondary level co-operatives will help to resolve some of the challenges. Therefore,

Zembaba Bee Products Development & Trade Promotion Co-operative Union has been established towards improving bee products’ marketing in the region.

The Union was established in May 2006, with support from SOS Sahel and from eight primary co-operatives located in Gojam, Gondar and Wallo, Amhara Region. These primary co-operatives are made up of individual farmers who are beekeepers. Total Union membership is

3,415 of which 2,940 are men and 475 women.

Objectives *

To promote the market for honey and other bee products

Selling honey bee colonies as a source of income for subsistence beekeepers Bees for Development Journal 64 Zoom in on Ethiopia Bees for Development Journal 40

Our vision To be our farmers’ and beekeepers’ economic and social problem

solver.

Our mission To enhance production, capital, marketing and management

skills of co-operatives and achieve successful and sustainable development by expanding beekeeping systems for the benefit of the members.

Background Households

in Ethiopia face difficulties if they have less than 0.5 hectares of land to cultivate. The only option for farmers is to participate in other income-generating activities. Apiculture is one such activity as it may be practised with a small plot of land, and farmers are able to use degraded land that supports bee forage. Young and old people are involved because it does not need much labour,

capital or land.

Union Members must have more than two years’ beekeeping experience. They provide an agreed number of kilograms of honey to their co-operative, and the co-operatives sell to the domestic market.

The co-operative distributes the annual profit to members as a dividend.

Even with 3,415 members, the total amount of products collected is not enough. Currently the Union has bought 15,237 kg of honey at 250,908 Birr (€18,523; US$26,936) from member farmers and 12,922 kg of honey has been sold at 219,055 Birr (€16,191; US$23,516) on the

domestic market. our members.

In

2008 we plan to collect 100,000 kg of honey from

Future plans *

To promote Union products in domestic and foreign markets

*

To enhance Union products in quantity and quality

*

To facilitate members’ production methods

*

To provide continuous training and technological support to members

members

*

To increase membership of the Union annually

*

To establish a honey processing factory

*

To build a honey processing factory.

*

To assist members to improve methods of production.

Simachew Mekonnen, Manager, Zembaba Bee Products

*

To provide training, good materials and market information for

Bees/or Development Journal 86

TREES BEES USE

CHROMOLAENA ODORATA (Eupatorium odoratum L) G O Adesina and S A Babarinde, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Nigeria

Apicultural value Chromolaena odorata is a good source of pollen for bees.

Agricultural value A troublesome weed of open cultivated fields, roadsides and plantation

crops.

Names Siam weed Yoruba Name: Koko Akintola

Chromolaena odorata

wily

.

- a good source of pollen for bees

Asteraceae

In Nigeria, honey bees visit the plant in the around 0600-1000 hours. morning

Origin

Flowers

It

is indigenous to South and Central America. Now introduced to Africa, Asia and the Pacific, where it is an invasive species.

Pale blue mauve or whitish with florets borne in pedunculate clusters.

Description

The plant is an unwanted species in cultivated fields due to its allelopathic characteristics (this means it uses specific bio-molecules to harm other plants) on other annual and perennial weeds growing within its vicinity. Research has confirmed that the exudates have

along the coastal areas.

Uses A diffuse, rapidly growing, strongly scented perennial shrub up to 3 m or more high. It is widespread in West Africa from coastal fringes of the rainforest to the southern edge of Guinea Savanna.

nematicidal properties (against root knot nematodes).

Flowering

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Chromolaena odotdti

Chromolaena odorata Starts to flower at the onset of the dry season

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Siam weed usually begins to flower at the onset of the dry season around October. Where bush burning destroys the plants, regrowth (the new shoot) may be found with blooming flowers till March, especially

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Bees/v; Development Journal 86

ZOOM

IN

Area

ON- LIBERIA

111,369 km2

Climate Hot and humid with high rainfall. The dry season from October to April has hot days and cool to cold nights. The rainy season is wet and cloudy with frequent heavy showers (Apri! to October).

Vegetation Three areas - Mangrove swamps and beaches along the coast, wooded hills and semi deciduous scrublands along the immediate interior, and

~.|

dense tropical forests and plateaux in the interior. Liberia has 40% of West Africa's rain forest.

Population

LIBERIA

COTE D'IVOIRE

3.3 million e MONROVIA

People Ethnic groups: Kpelle 20%, Bassa 16%, Gio 8%, Kru 7%, 49% Spread over 12 other ethnic groups

Religions: Christian 40%, Muslim 20%, animist 40% Education: Literacy (2003) 20% AIO

Health: Life expectancy (2005) 42.5 years

ARM

Work force: Agriculture 70%; industry 15%: services 2%.

Unemployment is 80% in the formal sector.

Economy GDP (IMF 2005 estimate): US$548.4 million Real GDP growth rate (2005): 5.3%

Per capita GDP (2005): US$119.4 Average annual inflation (2005): 6.9% Natural resources: Diamonds, gold, iron ore, rubber, timber and tin. The Government of Liberia believes there may be sizable deposits of crude oil

along its Aflantic Coast.

Trade (2005): Exports US$112 million (of which rubber US$99 million).

Major markets Germany, Greece, Poland and USA. imports US$272

million (petroleum US$89 million; rice US$30 million; donor and foreign direct investment-related US$141 million).

J

Kwame Aidoo (right) describes the workings of top-bar hives. This one is ona bamboo hive stand

Kwame Aidoo explains protective clothing

ZOOM IN ON LIBERIA

Capital Monrovia, with an estimated population 1-1.5 million.

Languages English is the official language. There are 16 indigenous languages.

Agriculture Bananas, cassava, Citrus, cocoa, coffee, corn, palm oil, pineapple, plantains, rice, sugarcane, sweet potatoes and vegetables.

Bees West African honey bee Apis mellifera adansonii

Stingless bees Dactylurina sp; Meliponula sp; Liotrigona sp Solitary bees Xylecopa sp; Pseudapis sp; Brausapis sp

Beekeeping Beekeeping is mainly with the honey bee Apis mellifera adansonii for honey and beeswax production. Top-bar hives are widely used by beekeepers. Honey hunting is widespread throughout rural areas.

alliferous vegetation Plant species: Aspilia africana, Bombax buonopozense, Ceiba pentanara, Chromolaena odorata, Citrus aurantifolia, Citrus sinensis,

Cocos nucifera, Elaeis guineensis, Hevea brasiliensis, Khaya senegalensis, Lantana camara, Mangifera indica, Manihot esculenta, Mimosa pudica, Musa spp (banana and plantain), Persea americana, Spathodea companutata.

Course participants learn about wax processing

Trade in bee products Production figures are not available. Honey and beeswax are all sold in-country: demand far outstrips production.

Organic honey The honey produced is from the country’s rich natural forests and could readily be certified as organic.

Honey production

duction

Pests and predators Ants, lizards, small hive beetles, spiders and wax moths.

Other problems Charcoal burning and logging of forest trees are destroying many of the forage sources for bees.

Beekeeping development and training

|

figures are not available but beekeepers state 10-20 kg of iey per colony per one annual harvest. In the northern parts of the country where climatic conditions are drier, good vegetation and available ground water for bees could yield two harvests in the year.

Since 2003, the Agricultural Programme of the United Methodist Church Monrovia, has organised and trained farmers in four communities in the Ganta area of the Nimba County. Two hundred top-bar hives have been constructed and distributed to farmers.

Things to bring wher you hanest your honey.

4. Bucket witty

A harvesting list, candles, body cream and certificate

whee

Successful participants from the course held in September 2007

ZOOM IN ON LIBERIA

In 2003, Arjays Farm located in Carysburg (east of Monrovia) obtained funds from the European Union to involve the local people in its operational area to keep bees for income generation. They started with 10 top-bar hives and now handle 100 colonies in various apiaries in the

History The country was first named as the Grain Coast (abundant grains of Malegueta pepper) by the Portuguese in 1461. Liberia, which means ‘Land of the Free’, was founded by free African-Americans

communities. Their honey bee colonies also improve pollination of fruit crops in farmers’ fields. Honey yields in the area range between 10-20 kg and this is readily bought at Liberian

and freed slaves from the USA in 1820.

$500-600 (€6-8; US$8-10)

Joseph Jenkins Roberts

of the True Whig Party was Liberia's first President. The True Whig Party ruled Liberia from independence in 1847 until 12 April 1980 when indigenous Liberian, Sergeant

per kg.

September 2007, the Community Development Service of Mercy Ships’ MV Africa Mercy trained and equipped 45 women in two groups from communities near Monrovia. Ninety-two top-bar hives were set out to attract bee colonies in the dry season.

In

Samuel K Doe, seized power

in a

coup d'état.

On 24 December 1989, Charles Taylor invaded Liberia from Céte d'Ivoire. From 1989 to 1996 one of Africa's bloodiest civil wars

ensued, claiming the lives of more than 200,000 Liberians. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) intervened

Beekeeping equipment Most beekeeping projects in the country use top-bar hives constructed by local carpenters. Other equipment such as smokers and bee suits are either imported or fabricated locally.

in 1990 and succeeded in preventing Charles Taylor from capturing Monrovia. Prince Johnson - formerly member of Taylor's National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) - formed the break-away Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL). Johnson's forces captured and killed Doe on 9 September 1990. a

Beekeeping associations/organisations There are no organised beekeeping associations operating in the country.

An Interim Government of National Unity (IGNU) was formed in The Gambia under the auspices of ECOWAS in October 1990, headed

by Dr Amos Sawyer. During the general election of 19 July 1997, Charles Taylor and his National Patriotic Party emerged victorious.

Taylor’s misrule led to the resumption of armed rebellion from among Taylor's former adversaries. On 11 August 2003, under intense US and international pressure, President Taylor resigned office and departed into exile in Nigeria.

Research No documented research into bees and beekeeping.

Education Beekeeping is not a taught subject in any known institution in the country.

August 2003 a two-year National Transitional Government of Liberia (NTGL) was formed, headed by Gyude Bryant. The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) took over security in Liberia in October 2003 with a force of nearly 15,000.

On 18

References

.

ADEVU, M (2007) Personal communication

US DEPARTMENT OF STATE (2007) Bureau of African Affairs May 2007. www.state.gov/p/at/ci/li/

The 11 October 2005 presidential and legislative elections and the subsequent 8 November 2005 presidential run-off resulted in

Thanks to our West Africa Correspondent, Kwame Aidoo, for sending

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf defeating international soccer star George Weah 59% to 40%, to become Africa’s first democraticallyelected female president.

,

the information and illustrations.

Have we ZOOMED IN on your country? Send us information if you would like your country to feature here.

NOTICE BOARD

a brief description of the project’s objectives, the proposed food production or income-generating activities, the work plan, the number

of participants, a detailed list of inputs with cost estimates and the

COMPETITION 2008. See www.aulaapicolazuqueca.com/

reporting arrangements. Submit your request to the office of FAO or UNDP in your country. See www.fao.org and inform BfD of the outcome of your application.

WINNING WORK

APIACTA

Congratulations José Quezada-Euan from Universidad Autonoma de Yucatan in Mexico who received an IFS Jubilee Award and prize of

For the beekeeper and bee scientist Apiacia the Apimondia Journal.

Available online from www.apimondia.org

US$2,000 for his research project Genetic variability of indigenous

BEE CRAFT

bees from the Yucatan Peninsula.

A full colour monthly magazine for beginners and experts alike covering all aspects of beekeeping in the UK and Ireland. 22 for 12 issues (one year). Credit cards accepted. For free sample copy and overseas rates contact secretary@bee-craft.com

International Apiculture Photography Contest - closing date 30 April

IFS calls for applications for research grants from young scientists in developing countries see www. ifs.se

PROJECT FUNDING

ULUDAG BEE JOURNAL

FAO, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, supports beekeeping projects in developing countries. Beekeepers’ groups and associations may apply for small project funding of up to US$10,000

News, practical information and research articles - a link between Turkish beekeeping and the world. Published quarterly in Turkish with

from the TeleFood Special Fund. Request documents should include

English summaries. See www.uludagaricilik.org

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NEWS AROUND THE WORLD BENIN Beekeeping is a growing activity in Benin. A national policy for beekeeping development is not yet established. There are over 1,800 active beekeepers annually harvesting at least 12 tonnes of honey. Currently support at national level is provided by the PAMF project. This forest project supports 349 beekeepers with 2,100 hives made from a variety of materials.

am in charge of Supervising beekeepers on behalf of PAMF and have 45 hives of my own. am |

|

Honey hut A beekeeper from Punjab has opened a ‘honey hut’ in Shimla, for selling honey and honeybased products. “This is our first honey hut.

The next outlet will be opened in Chandigarh and we plan to open 70 honey huts across the country. We also sell honey-based products

including honey tea, honey coffee, chocolates, cakes and noney-flavoured popcorn. Our Doraha-based honey farms

in

look forward to receiving my sponsored subscription to Bees for Development Journal.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

held a second training course on 11-15 February 2008. Of the 26 trainee participants, |

four were women. Beekeeping is a new concept for women in Papua New Guinea.

Thanks to CUSO Volunteers Kathleen Hardie

Materials from the Resource Box we received were given to Henganofi Beekeeping Club who have 50 registered members. They asked me

BFD their appreciation. We held a graduation ceremony on the last day and presented certificates. We are planning another District training event in April.

to convey to

Source: www.earthtimes.org/articles

Our Queen Breeders Association organised an

Tella Loie, Provincial Bee Co-ordinator, Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province

Open Day in December 2007. About 300 attended including beekeepers from other

Would you like to receive a sponsored subscription to B/D Journal? See page 16

US$9), up by PGKS (€1.2; US$1.8),

individuals are going into beekeeping.

neighbouring Punjab are spread over 60 acres where we have around 20,000 colonies of honey bees producing high quality honey”, said owner, Jagjit Singh Kapoor.

réwajou Eliab Biaou, Parakou

- PGK25 (€6;

and Peter Cooper who worked with us in 2004 and 2005, many women’s groups and

collaborating with NGOs specialised in beekeeping. We are taking a census of beekeepers and will submit a national policy for beekeeping in Benin to the Government. |

increase in queen hee prices

provinces. The main reasons were that we had been getting complaints about the quality of

Planning a meeting or training course?

See page 16

the queens being produced and soid, and the

INDIA TSBV-tolerant Apis cerana In the 1990s the beekeeping industry

in

Kerala

State was in a shambles following the outbreak of Thai sacbrood virus (TSBV). The sector is now picking up thanks to the scientific intervention of the honey bee research centre at Kerala Agriculture University’s (KAU) College of

Agriculture, Vellayini.

VARROA

NIGERIA

IN

In October 2007 Mike Ukattah of the Beekeepers’ Association of Nigeria Eastern Region, Abia State, contacted BFD with the following concern: |

have been keeping bees for 10 years and have 30 colonies. My best colony moved into an kept in the porch of my house, on 29 August 2004. Since then it became

old hive that

|

Stronger every year and was my best colony. In April 2007 these bees provided me with 23 litres of honey. A few weeks ago when was sweeping the floor around the hive, noticed that the bees were dying in great numbers — this was most unusual. |

According to scientists at the Centre, before 1991, Kerala State contributed more than 50% of the honey produced in India. But with the outbreak of TSBV, nearly 95% of the then

ting colonies of Indian hive bee Apis cerana mura were wiped out, almost leading to the

|

29 September 2007: discovered tiny reddish-brown mites creeping on some of the bees, mainly the drones. The mites were firmly attached to the thorax and abdomen of the bees and |

could be seen with the unaided eye. What was once a monster colony has become so weak that visitors to our farm question if the bees are still inside, considering the level of noise that usually emanated from the hive when the bees were strong. Yesterday opened the hive to |

end of commercial beekeeping in Kerala.

discover that there was no brood

The trend is now reversed. We fave more than 400,000 Apis cerana colonies in the State. It

chamber, no mites and no drones. The combs were neatly arranged but with little incidence of wax moth. All efforts tc find the queen proved fruitless, but the females returning from the field were heavily laden with nectar and pollen.

is estimated that there were record yields of — honey during the last two years about 4,000

of dry combs from the brood area.

tonnes annually.

4 December 2007:

KAU scientists headed by Dr Abraham Jacob started work on ways to control TSBV in 1991.

after being away for three days and have discovered that my best colony is gone.

They identified the causal organism of TSBV to be an RNA virus. Detailed studies were done

opened the hive, cleaned it up and burned all ihe debris. guess the colony absconded

by Dr Stephen Devanesan under the guidance of Dr Jacob. Dr Devanesan said the Centre had

because of the mites and heavy infestation of

contributed to the development of TSBVtolerant nucleus colonies of Apis cerana indica, by selective breeding. These colonies were

distributed to beekeepers through Horticorp, the agency of the project to support the

beekeeping industry.

T Ramavarman, The Hindu, 21 September 2007

Finally,

|

in the brood

had to remove the super which was half built with dry combs and also three frames

|

have just returned home

|

|

wax moth.

January 2008: the UK National Bee Unit confirmed the mites on Mike Ukattah's bees 21

are Varroa and confirmed the presence of

Varroa spp in Nigeria.

Articles about Varroa and suggested treatments can be found on our Web Information Centre at www.beesfordevelopment.org

11

Mike Ukattah

Bees/o; Development Journal 86

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Bees/or Development Journal 86

LOOK AHEAD

FRANCE APIMONDIA 41st International Apicultural

Congress 17-20 September 2009, Montpellier Further details www.apimondia2009.com

ARGENTINA Exposici6n Apicola Internacional 14-16 March 2008, Mar del Plata

Il

Further details

GERMANY

www.expoapimardelplata.com.ar

2ND OIE Symposium of bee diseases

APIMONDIA 42nd International Apicultural Takes place in 2011, Buenos Aires Dates and details will appear here

GUYANA 5th Caribbean Beekeeping Congress 10-16 November 2008

BHUTAN 2nd International Beekeeping Congress 19-21 August 2008, Thimpu Further details iocbhutan@gmail.com

Further details page 15

ITALY Apimedica & Apiquality International Forum 9-12 June 2008, Rome Further details www.apimedica.org

BRAZIL Congresso Brasileiro: XVII Apicultura & Ill Meliponicultura 4-9 June 2008, Belo Horizonte ther details

KENYA ApiTrade Africa 25-27 March 2008, Nairobi

....W.apacame.org.br/eventos.htm

BULGARIA

and control

26-28 August 2008, Freiburg Further deiails www.beehealth.info

Congress

VI International Exhibition

- Diagnosis

Further details www.apitradeatrica.org

- Agreements -

MEXICO

Apiculture 8-10 February 2008, Pleven Further details www.partners-expo.com

15-19 October 2008, Nuevo Vallata Further details. www.apimondia.org

RUSSIA APIMONDIA/SICAMM: Apiculture in the 21st Century — Dark Bee in Russia

CHILE

SPAIN XXVII Feria Apicola de Castilla-La-Mancha 6-9 March 2008, Guadalajara Further details

www.apicultoresdeasturias.com

TANZANIA 3rd National Honey Show September 2008, Dodoma

Further details www.tanzaniahoney.org

UK Ulster Beekeepers’ Association 64th Annual Conference

14-15 March 2008, Antrim Further details www.ubka.org British Beekeepers’ Association Annual Convention 19 April 2008, near Warwick Further details. www.bbka.org.uk

National Honey Show 30 October - November 2008, Weybridge NEW VENUE 1

APIMONDIA: 2nd World Symposium of queen bee breeders

1st Apimondia Honeydew Symposium 1-3 August 2008, Burgas Further details bogi@gmx.ch

SOUTH AFRICA XXXil International Congress of Entomology 6-12 July 2008, Durban Further deiails www.ice2008.org.za

Further details www.honeyshow.co.uk

LEARN AHEAD UK

Further details www.sicamm.org

BID Training Day 20 June 2008, Monmouth Further details www.beesfordevelopment.org

CHINA

SLOVENIA 31st State Beekeeping Seminar &

Bees for Development can arrange tailormade beekeeping study tours and visits.

Contact us for details.

9th AAA Conference

International Exhibition

November 2008, Hangzhou, Zhe jiang rurther details page 19

15-16 March 2008, Celje Further details www.ce-sejem.si

9th Congreso Iberolatinoamericano de

19-22 May 2008, Moscow

Apicultura

9-13 July 2008, Concepcion Further details www.apicongresso.com

If

you want notice of your conference, workshop or meeting to be included here and on our website send details to Bees for Development

E-mail info@beesfordevelopment.org

BFD BEEKEEPERS' SAFARIS - Dates for your Diary

BEEKEEPING HOLIDAYS, TRAVEL & ADVENTURE Rogaland, West Norway 29 May

5

June 2008

Meet Norway’s bees and beekeepers; see fjords, bronze age villages, local culture

Turkey 2-14 August 2008 Caucasian honey bees, frame and log hive beekeeping, Erzurum honey bazaar

Trinidad & Tobago 2-12 February 2009 Caribbean bees in top-bar and frame hives, carnival preparations, island life 13

Aer;

Bees/or Development Journal 86

AVAILABLE FROM

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BOOK SHELF

ah

LJ

CENTRAL ASSOCIATION OF BEE-KEEPERS PUBLICATIONS

BEES, BIOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT Peter G Kevan

2007 345 pages Soft cover

49.95

(€75) Code K750

The University of Guelph, Canada has a long tradition of apicultural education. This text is based on lecture notes and other course material prepared for students by Peter Kevan in recent years. It consists of 51 chapters, each one made up of several pages of text and pictures that forms the basis for an informative lecture on the topic. Chapters are organised within eleven sections. The first seven sections discuss all important aspects of bee biology, while the next three discuss beekeeping applications: a historical view, problems in the bee yard and products. The final

amped ty

Nosrnant. Carreck

and Tony W. Johnsen

section covers other bees that are managed for pollination.

This is an excellent introduction to bee biclogy that will help beekeepers to understand the biological reasons that determine honey bee management.

ASPECTS OF SOCIALITY

IN

compiled by Norman Carreck and Tony Johnsen

Bees BioLocy

INSECTS

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2007 203 pages A5 soft cover 10.95

(€16.50) Code C510

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The third in a series of collected lectures presented by leading scientists to the UK Central Association of Beekeepers. The 19 papers cover many aspects of social behaviour in the Hymenoptera and Isoptera including evolution, communication, organisation, feeding, reproduction, their interaction with humans, and their conservation.

Very informative and useful to students and beekeepers.

THE COMPLETE FUNDRAISING HANDBOOK 2007 381 pages soft cover

Nina Botting and Michael Norton

21.95

(€33) Code B900

The updated 5th edition of this comprehensive source of fundraising advice. The book is divided into three sections: fundraising principles and strategies, sources of funding, and fundraising techniques, and is illustrated throughout with case studies. Practical advice and a useful guide for both novice and experienced fundraisers.

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Pollination

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Products

Molecular bee

Technology

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Pests and

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Deadline for abstracts 30 June 2008 Further details www.aaa2008china.com

FIFTH CARIBBEAN 3EEKEEPING CONGRESS

GUYANA 10-16 November 2008 Witness how Africanised honey bees are productive and useful for many people Further information will be posted on the Bf D website

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developing countries.

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projects, schools and groups

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Bees for Development 2008

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