ISSUE NO 100, SEPTEMBER 2011
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Some covers of BfD Journal on its journey to number 100
ISSUE No 100 September 2011 In this issue
page
Practical beekeeping - Adding value to bee products in Tanzania..........3 Crucial value of pollinators....................4 Creation of a bee sanctuary ...................5 Beekeeping livelihoods in the Himalayas .............................................6 Increase in EU support for beekeeping............................................7 Caribbean Congress in Grenada ............8 Inspirational poem.................................9 Stingless bees in Ghana......................10 News around the World .......................12 Letter - a response to Varroa in tropical Africa......................................14 AAA move ...........................................14 Trees Bees Use....................................15 Look and Learn Ahead .........................16 Notice Board .......................................16 Bookshelf ............................................18
BfD Journal Published quarterly by Bees for Development and distributed to readers in over 130 countries Editor Nicola Bradbear PhD Co-ordinator Helen Jackson BSc Subscriptions cost £26 per year - see page 19 for ways to pay Readers in developing countries: can apply for a sponsored subscription using the form on page 20 or through our website Bf D Trust works to assist beekeepers in developing countries. Please become a Supporter - see page 19 UK Registered Charity1078803
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DEAR FRIENDS
We made it to 100! Welcome to this milestone edition of Bees for Development Journal. As we go to press, here in UK there seems to be a resurgence of interest in simple, natural, low-technology beekeeping – in fact everything that we have been espousing for the past 100 editions – which means 25 years!
Bees for Development Journal provides useful information about beekeeping practised within people’s livelihoods worldwide, and we specialise in news about beekeeping in developing countries. This is where beekeeping can be particularly useful for people and crucial for maintaining honey bee populations. We would like to emphasise that Bees for Development is not promoting any one type of hive over any other. A hive is just a container for bees to live inside. The best hive is the one that is most appropriate for your bees and for you, and depending on where you are, and what resources you have easily available to you, this may be a Langstroth hive, a topbar hive, a box pile hive, the Oscar Perone hive, a log hive, the Warré hive, or any other of the hundreds of different hives that been designed, each with their proponents arguing in their favour, and sometimes on the pages of this Journal.
We hope to inspire you by bringing glimpses of how people in different places worldwide are working to protect bees and to make livelihoods from them too. Creating sanctuaries for bees sounds like a great idea – and on page 5 you can read of a bee sanctuary established in South India. Because good, reliable recipes for making beeswax soap are not always easy to obtain – we are very pleased to bring you tested and adaptable instructions by Sara Robb. And everyone is always intrigued to know more about stingless bees and how to look after them – so do read about the fantastic new initiative doing just that in Ghana. With news of beekeepers all around the world, we hope that there is always something fresh and new for you here – please do let us know what you would like to read as we enter our second century.
One hundred not out!
PHOTO © Bf D
COVER PHOTO © Bf D
Bees for Development Journal 100
"The Association of Caribbean Beekeepers' Organizations (ACBO) wishes to extend heartiest congratulations to Bees for Development, and its hard working editorial/publication team for their unswerving commitment to the publication of BfD Journal. To have published 100 issues of a quarterly journal is by any standard a major accomplishment. Caribbean beekeepers have benefited tremendously from being able to access BfD Journals, and I believe that it is fair to say that over the years, millions have been impacted, directly and indirectly, by its publication.
One hundred 'not out' is a score even Brian Lara would be extremely proud of. Having reached it he would be contemplating a double century - I am sure Bf D is as well. Congratulations again!”
Gladstone Solomon
Gladstone Solomon, President of ACBO and BfDJ Correspondent in the Caribbean More Caribbean news on pages 8 and 9
Copyright: You are welcome to translate and/or reproduce items appearing in BfDJ as part of our Information Service. Permission is given on the understanding that BfDJ and author(s) are acknowledged, Bf D contact details are provided in full, and you send us a copy of the item or the website address where it is used. SUPPORT: Bees for Development Trust acknowledge: Panta Rhea Foundation, Synchronicity Foundation and the many beekeeping groups and individuals who support our work. Please encourage your friends and colleagues to help.
PRACTICAL BEEKEEPING
Bees for Development Journal 100
Adding value to bee products in Tanzania Sara Robb, Bath Potions Ltd, 14 Grand Arcade, London, N12 0EH, UK
This recipe yields a relatively hard soap with a good lather which is moisturising. It was the recipe Honeycare Tanzania used as a starting point - however the finished soap was slightly softer than expected.
Keywords: Africa, beeswax, honey, lip balm, recipe, soap, value added product
While the initial products from beekeeping are honey and beeswax, these will provide greater supplements to household income if further made into valued added products. Dr Sara Robb has been working with Honeycare Tanzania to develop value added products with honey and beeswax. In this article she explains how to adapt recipes to use locally sourced ingredients for making products such as beeswax lip balm and honey soap.
Two common problems that you may encounter when making soap and that will lead to the soap being too soft are impurities in the sodium hydroxide and unclear labelling of oils. It is unlikely that you will produce a soap which is too hard, because recipes for making soap are super-fatted, and contain additional oil which is not involved in the chemical reaction. PHOTOS © SARA ROBB
Value added products are best made from the locally sourced ingredients that are readily available to beekeepers. Start with one recipe and make adjustments as necessary.
Beeswax lip balm
Basic sunflower lip balm base is made with beeswax, cocoa butter and oil in the proportions: 20% beeswax, 20% cocoa butter, 60% sunflower oil. The method is simple: just warm all the ingredients until the beeswax and cocoa butter have melted. Stir, and pour into pots.
Modify this basic recipe to include local ingredients. For example, sunflower oil can be substituted by a locally available vegetable oil. If cocoa butter is not available, African shea butter can be used although some experimenting may be required to get the correct consistency. Another consideration is climate. If you are making lip balm in a very hot climate, you may need to adjust the recipe to ensure the finished product does not melt in the heat. However, because all the ingredients are blended together and there is no chemical reaction to consider, the worst that can happen is your lip balm will be too soft or too hard. If the lip balm formulation is too hard, add more liquid oil. If the lip balm is too soft, add more beeswax. The biggest challenge about making lip balm in hot climates is to have the lip balm soft enough to use on cool days, yet not to melt on very hot days. Therefore you will need containers that close tightly and will not leak if the balm melts on hotter days.
Bath Potions honey soaps
Impurities in sodium hydroxide
When making soap it is important to check the purity of the sodium hydroxide (NaOH) that you use: a purity of 98% is recommended. If the NaOH contains impurities there is less hydroxide to react with the oil and the soap will be softer than desired. Check the packaging for an indication of the level of purity (however this may not always be accurate). NaOH should be very white in colour. If the powder is grey, this may indicate the quality is not as marked on the label. If you are unsure of the purity of the NaOH, start with the familiar recipe, and adjust as you need to. You can calculate the amount of NaOH necessary to completely convert all your oils to soap using the table overleaf. From this value, you will be able to determine the percentage of free oil your recipe contains. It will not be feasible to have the NaOH tested, so I use the calculated value to convert all oil to soap as my maximum value. By knowing these values, you can safely increase the amount of NaOH in your recipe without exceeding the maximum value. If the original recipe contains 20% excess oil, you may wish to increase the amount of NaOH used so the recipe theoretically contains only 10% excess oil.
Honey soap
While a small adjustment may be necessary to optimise the recipe when making lip balm, changing a soap recipe is a little more complicated. When making soap it makes sense to use oils that are readily available and locally sourced. However you must consider the chemistry when making changes to soap recipes. It is advisable that you start with a recipe you know well so that you know what the resulting product should be like. The recipe we use has been formulated by Sara Robb - for more detailed instructions, please use the published recipe (see further reading). Here we will not cover the basics of soap making, but instead focus on how to adjust the recipe for local resources.
Remember these values are theoretical and the actual amount of excess oil will be higher if you have impurities in the NaOH. NaOH that is 98% pure will result in 2% excess oil. When increasing the amount of NaOH, you will need also to proportionally increase the amount of water used to dissolve the NaOH.
Basic Recipe 1- Olive, Sunflower, Palm and Coconut Oil
Lye solution: 112 g sodium hydroxide (NaOH), 200 g water.
Oil Mixture: 468 g coconut oil, 175 g palm oil, 150 g olive oil, 125 g sunflower oil, 15 ml honey.
Unclear labelling of oils
Method
When sourcing local oils to use in the soap recipe, you may find the labelling is not completely clear. Oil may be labelled as ‘palm oil’, but the labelling may not indicate whether this is palm or palm kernel oil. The NaOH factor will be multiplied by the amount of a specific oil, to determine how much NaOH is necessary to convert that oil to soap. Each oil has its own NaOH factor and as a result, different amounts of NaOH are required to convert different oils to soap. Table 1 shows that palm oil and palm kernel oil have quite different NaOH factors. If you use palm kernel
1. Add the sodium hydroxide to the water and stir - this makes the lye. 2. Mix all the oils and honey together. 3. Slowly add the lye to the oil mixture. Stir until the soap mixture begins to thicken. 4. Pour into a pan and cover to retain heat. Keep the soap covered until the soap has processed. 5. Uncover the soap, remove from pan and cut into blocks. 3
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PRACTICAL BEEKEEPING Example calculation for Basic Recipe 1 - Olive, Sunflower, Palm and Coconut Oil
oil in a recipe which calls for palm oil, the resulting soap will be softer than anticipated. You may also find that some oil labelled ‘vegetable oil’ will give no further indication of what specific oil the bottle contains. A local person may be able to recognise the oil or you may be able to contact the manufacturer to determine from what plant the oil is derived.
Oil in recipe
Coconut oil
Making changes to the recipe
Palm oil
You may substitute oils in recipes which have the same or very close NaOH factors. The above recipe calls for sunflower oil. The NaOH factor for sunflower oil is 0.136 so appropriate substitutions would be olive oil or soya oil which have the same NaOH factor. Corn, palm kernel and peanut oils, with NaOH factors of 0.137 are close enough that the substitution can be made without doing any calculations. Other substitutions will require a calculation of the amount of NaOH to use.
Olive oil
Sunflower oil
Coconut Corn
Cotton Olive Palm
Palm kernel Peanut Soya
Sunflower
X X X X X X X X X
175 X 150 X 125 X
0.184 =
86g
0.136 =
20g
0.143 = 0.136 = =
For a 10% super-fatted soap: 148 g x 0.9 = 133 g NaOH
25g 17g
148g
To calculate water required: 133 g NaOH ÷ 0.56 = 238 g water
Further reading
ROBB, S. (2009) Dr Sara’s honey potions. Northern Bee Books. Mytholmroyd, UK. Available to buy from the BfD website store: www.beesfordevelopment.org
Table 1: Calculating the maximum amount of NaOH to use in soap recipes Oil (g) X
468 X
NaOH factor = NaOH required (g)
Total NaOH required to convert all oil to soap
When developing products in different regions, modifications to familiar recipes may be necessary to accommodate local ingredients, and the recommendations provided here will provide a starting point. Oil in recipe
Oil (g) X
NaOH factor = NaOH required (g)
A new book Bee Healthy, Bee Beautiful by Sara Robb is soon to be published. Watch for the review in a future edition of BfDJ. “A recipe book focusing on the anti-oxidant properties of bee products and how to incorporate them into your diet and beauty routine”.
0.184 = 0.137 = 0.139 = 0.136 = 0.143 = 0.137 = 0.137 = 0.136 = 0.136 =
Total NaOH required to convert all oil to soap
=
Sara Robb and Jayen Chandarana
Sara Robb has a PhD in neuroscience from Hershey Medical School, Pennsylvania, USA. In 2003 she started her company Bath Potions which specialises in cosmetics containing honey and beeswax. Sara has a continued interest in developing value added products for beekeepers.
Honeycare Tanzania was established in 2004 to trade in honey and provide training, support and equipment to beekeepers. Currently, Honeycare Tanzania has ten collection centres in Tanzania where honey and beeswax are bought from village beekeepers and training is provided. Honeycare Tanzania pays a fair price to the beekeepers for their produce.
Contact Jayen Chandarana, Operations Director, Honeycare Tanzania, PO Box 2635, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Crucial value of pollinators
operates a beekeeping programme which receives €32 m (US$46 m) per year. Friedhelm Schmider, Director General of the European Crop Protection Association (ECPA), told the Conference, "Today we have seen broad consensus on issues of timely relevance to European agriculture and the preservation of not only pollinator species, but biodiversity in general. It is reassuring to see that we are all moving in the right direction. Continued research into the drivers of pollinator population change will equip us with the knowledge to ensure sustainable agriculture and a European landscape that is beneficial to biodiversity and maintenance of ecosystem services. Collaboration among all stakeholders is vital for success."
An EU Parliamentary Conference on 28 June was told that more research is required to understand the drivers of pollinator population change. The hearing heard that pollination is crucial for the sexual reproduction of flowering plants, and thus for agriculture. Simon Potts, University of Reading, UK, said: “Nearly 75% of the world's crop species rely to some extent on insect pollination. Pollinators contribute an estimated €153 bn (US$221 bn) to the global economy and account for approximately 9% of agricultural food production". He explained that the honey bee is responsible for one third of insect pollination and that most pollination services are provided by wild bees and other insects.
The Conference saw the official launch of the report Pollinators and Agriculture by the ECPA and the European landowners' organisation, which examines the diversity and functions of insect pollinators. It describes the value of pollination to agriculture, looks at the trends in pollinator population decline and explores options for reversing this trend.
Representatives of NGOs, farmers and land owners, beekeepers, scientists, MEPs and the crop protection industry attended the conference. They discussed the role of pollinators, their importance to agriculture and practical measures for enhancing their populations.
Martin Banks (29 June 2011), www.theparliament.com
Luxembourg EPP member Astrid Lulling pointed out that the EU already
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Creation of a bee sanctuary
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Robert Leo, Keystone Foundation, PO Box 35, Kotagiri 643 217, Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India Keywords: Apis cerana, biodiversity, biosphere, conservation, honey hunting, India, Nilgiris, shola, Toda
We are working to conserve indigenous Apis cerana honey bees, their flora and the shola woodland habitat in the ancestral lands of Toda people in South India.
The Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve forms part of the Western Ghats in India and includes diverse ecological systems with unique natural and cultural heritage. At higher altitudes (1,800-2,500 m) the grasslands and montane forests (locally known as shola ) are homelands for the Toda indigenous community.
The grasslands and shola woodland patches provide nectar and pollen sources for Apis cerana, one of Asia’s indigenous honey bees, while cavities in the shola trees provide nesting habitat. These cavities are named Shiife by Toda people and are traditionally owned and marked, and their ownership transferred from generation to generation.
The cavity beekeeping system
Placing the capstone at the entrance to the cavity where Apis cerana nest
Natural cavities in living trees within a patch of forest are identified by the Toda people. The cavity entrance is enlarged to provide access to the honeycombs. At the beginning of November these cavities are cleaned and capstones are placed at the entrance. Bee holes are made for the bees to enter, and by 15 November onwards, swarms begin to occupy these cavities and build combs. During the fourth week of January the honey hunter will collect one brood comb to offer to the forest deity. By 15 February to mid May honeycombs are collected three or four times. By the middle of June the bees migrate to the plains as the monsoon season begins. The honey hunter will begin his operation again in November. The end of the monsoon and flowering season are crucial ecological indicators for the bees and beekeepers. Todas pass to their children the legends and adventures about these cavities, bees and forests.
nearby areas, and this labour force brought in for forest operations has largely ignored the cultural and ecological values of these bee habitats. People have indiscriminately raided and destroyed the habitat.
The Nilgiri District Administration and Tamil Nadu Forest Department recognised the Toda settlement and neighbouring forest Bekapathy Mund as being in need of protection to conserve bee habitats, and now a bee sanctuary of 14.5 km2 has been declared. This area is unique virgin forest and grassland, and contains approximately 62 tree cavities containing Apis cerana honey bees. It also includes the sacred Toda conical temple and sacred dairy. The Sanctuary is being monitored by the community. Fortnightly data collection began in November 2010, recording date of honey bee arrival,
Development initiatives have brought other non-Toda communities into
PHOTOS © ROBERT LEO
(below) Toda house
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the number of occupied and vacant cavities, harvesting and floral diversity. Awareness campaigns, a one day ecological show and posters on ecological linkages are also part of the programme. A booklet will be prepared at the end of the first year. We hope that this will lead to conservation of shola woodland, the bees and the whole ecosystem.
Next
• Surveying and documenting all cavities occupied by honey bees. • Documenting the cavities which are not harvested and the bees’ migration dates. • Recording floral details and renewal rights over the cavities in accordance with traditional family rights.
• Awareness campaigns, posters, responsible eco tourism and community conservation and monitoring practices.
Inside a Toda house: the author is on the right
• Creating a watchdog committee from the local Toda community to restrict destruction of Toda traditional domains and marked territories.
Funding support Hill Area Development Programme, Nilgiris.
Implementing and capacity building Keystone Foundation: Aradu Kuttan, Robert Leo, Saneesh and community members.
Also part of the team The Divisional Forest Officer, the Forest Range Officer and Watchers of the Tamil Nadu Forest Department.
Further reading
Keystone Foundation in BfD Journal 87
DUTT,R.; SEELEY,J.; ROY,P. (eds) (2009) Proceedings of the Biodiversity and Livelihoods Conference. Write-Arm, Bangalore, India.
Shola woodland
Beekeeping livelihoods in the Himalayas Uma Partap, Co-ordinator Honey bees Project, ICIMOD, GPO Box 3226, Kathmandu, Nepal
Keywords: Apis cerana, bee product, biodiversity, Hindu Kush Himalaya, ICIMOD, Nepal, pollinator, value chain
For over two decades the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) has been promoting beekeeping, raising awareness of the importance of honey bees as pollinators, and drawing attention to the important roles of Himalayan indigenous bees. Many factors still need to be addressed so that farmers can make the most of beekeeping for income and rural development. Most important of these are to exploit market opportunities by using a value chain approach, to create an enabling environment for trade, to improve the knowledge of experts in topics important for beekeeping development, and to promote awareness of the role of bees as pollinators for agricultural productivity and biodiversity.
The present phase of the Austrian Development Agency supported project Improving livelihoods through knowledge partnerships and value chains of bee products and services in the Himalayas is to address these issues. We are working with 17 partners in the countries of the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region. Efforts are being made to promote equitable participation of women in all project activities.
Participants in a value chain workshop conducted in Gopeswar, Chamoli District of Uttarakhand, India
delivery. A pro-poor value chain for honey will help producers to improve their incomes from bee products by bringing quality into their production and enhancing their marketing prospects.
We conducted action research to assess current honey value chains. Honey production, harvesting, processing and marketing practices were studied in sites in the Chittagong Hills (Bangladesh), Himachal and Uttarakhand Provinces (India), Dadeldhura District (Nepal) and Chitral District (Pakistan) to identify leverage points in the chain where interventions can be made. Area specific action plans have been developed and the partner organisations are being supported to implement them.
Pro-poor value chains for honey
Competition in the honey and bee product sector is fierce and it can be difficult for farmers to access markets to sell their produce at reasonable prices. In our project, stakeholders are using a value chain approach to analyse market pathways and maximise benefits. This approach addresses the factors that determine whether a product meets market requirements concerning quality, price, dependability, volume, design, and speed of 6
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Apis cerana apiary of a beekeeper in Chamoli District of Uttarakhand, India
Apis cerana colonies in a farmer’s house in Kavre District, Nepal
policies, and gender and social equity are rarely included in courses. Our project has developed and strengthened partnerships with technical institutions and universities developing curricula on sustainable apiculture for a wide range of stakeholders. Basic beekeeping training courses tested by partners in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal were well received by the participants as they addressed new areas including honey value chains and social issues such as gender. Academic curricula have also been developed jointly with partners in Bhutan and Pakistan. These curricula are being implemented for teaching undergraduate courses in agriculture universities in Pakistan and at the College of Natural Resources, Bhutan.
Pollination and ecosystem services
There are indications of a marked decline in the diversity and abundance of pollinators as a result of indiscriminate pesticide use, land use change, and other factors. This must have adverse impact on natural pollination, agricultural productivity and maintenance of biodiversity. ICIMOD has focused effort to raise awareness of this issue and to promote honey bees as an input in agricultural production technologies. However, we still need to gather hard data on the value of pollinators to convince those at policy and planning level.
A beekeeper in Maoxian (China) with his apiary of over 100 Apis cerana colonies
Project outcomes
Our project is helping HKH countries to develop residue monitoring plans, traceability parameters, national honey sampling policies, and Good Manufacturing Practice guidelines to address the issues of quality and honey trade. The results are being shared with our partners, beekeepers and honey processors.
In its current phase our project and our partners in India, Nepal and Pakistan are undertaking various activities including field demonstrations of the impact of bee pollination on crop yield and quality, organising awareness camps, wall painting, developing posters and brochures to raise awareness of the importance of pollination services provided by honey bees.
Although many agricultural universities, training centres, vocational training institutes, and NGOs provide training in beekeeping, the content and delivery of the curricula vary, and topics like value chains, honey trade
More information at www.icimod.org
INCREASE IN EU SUPPORT FOR BEEKEEPING
It is hoped to increase the effectiveness of the programmes and demonstrate the proactive approach of the Commission towards resolving the problems of a highly sensitive sector.
All MS have communicated their national beekeeping programmes to the Commission. The programmes relate to different measures: control of Varroa, support for laboratories, restocking of hives, applied research programmes and technical assistance. All 27 programmes are eligible for co-financing. It is calculated that the total number of hives in the 27 MS is almost 14 million.
The EU Commission approved the national programmes of its 27 Member States (MS) to improve the production and marketing of apiculture products during the period 2011-2013. The EU contribution to the financing of the programmes has increased by almost 25% compared to the previous period (2008-2010), from €26 (US$37) million to €32 (US$46) million per year. The health of the beekeeping sector is a sensitive issue given the fundamental role of bees for pollination. For several years the sector has been facing an unprecedented mortality of bees. This makes the economic situation difficult for beekeepers and poses a threat to biodiversity. The national programmes are currently the only tool available to partially offset the loss of bees. MS have been satisfied with the benefits provided by these programmes, and the positive effect of measures funded under national programmes is widely recognised by beekeepers.
Each MS has the option every three years to submit a national apiculture programme to improve the conditions for production and marketing of apiculture products, including a study on the structure of the sector. For the next period all MS expressed an interest in these programmes.
For the full report see www.beesfordevelopment.org/portal/ and search for EUROPA Press Release 7
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Caribbean Congress in Grenada Keywords: Association of Caribbean Beekeepers’ Organizations, Grenada Association of Beekeepers; spice island; US Virgin Islands
The Sixth Caribbean Beekeeping Congress took place in May in Grenada. St George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine kindly provided an excellent venue within the University campus. Around 100 participants from 15 nations participated in the Congress that consisted of five days of talks, presentations, social events and visits to beekeepers and enterprises throughout the island. A great chance to learn about bees and meet others who are equally involved and interested.
Bees in Grenada are generally healthy, and beekeepers enjoy good local markets for their produce. Grenada is famous as ‘the spice isle’, growing nutmegs, cinnamon and cloves - that local beekeepers use with their honey and beeswax to make value added products. Major problems in Grenada (and other Caribbean nations) are the growing shortage of places to keep bees as Caribbean land is used increasingly for housing and recreation, and widespread use of pesticides. The Congress was organised by the Grenada Association of Beekeepers in collaboration with the Association of Caribbean Beekeepers’ Organizations (ACBO) and with support from St George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine and the Government of Grenada. ACBO has played a crucial role in ensuring the continuity of these Congresses, and ACBO’s AGM was held during the Congress, with new officers elected. The US Virgin Islands won the bid to host the 7th Congress, to take place in 2013.
Nicola Bradbear’s travel to the Congress was kindly sponsored by VITA (Europe) Ltd
Most Caribbean honey is marketed in rum bottles (right) Mr Jeff Augustine, President of Grenada Beekeepers Association (inset) Beekeeping in Grenada (below)
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AN INSPIRATIONAL POEM
When I say, “I am a Beekeeper” I’m not shouting, “I know it all” I’m whispering, “I want to learn” “Now, I’ve found another aspect of nature to appreciate”
When I say, “I am a Beekeeper” I don’t speak this with haughty, ill-placed pride I’m confessing that I lack experience And need others to be my guide
When I say, “I am a Beekeeper” I’m not trying to be strong I’m admitting that I make mistakes And use YOUR confidence to right my wrong
When I say, “I am a Beekeeper” I’m not claiming to be perfect I too have lost many hives But attending Bee Congresses and Trade Shows keep me excitedly focused
When I say, “I am a Beekeeper” I still feel the sting of sacrifice I have my share of doubt and ignorant zeal So, I call upon this ACBO Network to educate
When I say, “I AM a BEEKEEPER” It’s not that I am richer than anyone I’m just a simple CHAMPION of this cause Who receives economic value for good, EXCELLENT work done. Socio-economic trend setters BEEKEEPERS
G Deslyn Richards, St Kitts & Nevis
This poem was presented at the 6th Caribbean Beekeeping Congress and was inspired by Maya Angelou's work. For the full effect, listen to Deslyn reciting her poem at www.beesfordevelopment.org/news 9
PHOTO © G DESLYN RICHARDS
Grenada’s famous spices are combined with honey and beeswax to create secondary products (inset) Ms Carol Millar, Congress participant from Jamaica
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Stingless bees in Ghana
Kwame Aidoo 1, Peter Kwapong 1, Rofela Combey 1, I Afia Karikari 2 1 International Stingless Bee Centre, Department of Entomology and Wildlife, School of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Ghana 2 Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, CSIR, Tamale, Ghana
Satellite stations
Keywords: Africa, Apidae, Cleptotrigona, Dactylurina, Hypotrigona, International Stingless Bee Centre, meliponiculture, Meliponula, Plebeina
Five satellite stations have been established in Ghana’s ecological zones to extend meliponiculture to surrounding communities. Each satellite station is made up of a bee shed and seven bee hives donated to the community for training and learning.
Stingless bees are found in tropical regions world-wide. Throughout the tropics many species of stingless bees have been kept by farmers for their products (honey, propolis and pollen) and also for providing pollination services for fruits and vegetables (Roubik, 1995; Heard, 1999). They are important for the pollination of many flowering plants in tropical ecosystems (Roubik, 1995; Heard, 1999; Slaa et al, 2000). Stingless bees belong to the family Apidae where they are the only social group beside the genus Apis (honey bees) and 400+ species have been described by scientists. Stingless bees live in perennial colonies with a queen, drones and thousands of workers (Heard & Exley, 1994; Roubik, 1992). Like honey bees, some species nest in cavities, while a few stingless bee species build and live in exposed nests attached to branches or stems of trees.
Indigenous and scientific studies
A survey collected indigenous knowledge on stingless bees from farmers, traditional medicine men and elders in communities throughout Ghana. Stingless bees have local names in various dialects (Table 1) and their honey has been used in the preparation of traditional medicines. However the honey was harvested in an unsustainable manner. The team also conducted scientific studies on various aspects of stingless bee ecology and nest product utilisation. Stingless bee species collected from the ecological zones of Ghana are listed in Table 1.
Our current focus on stingless bees in Ghana dates from 1995 when Rev Brother Anthony Addai conducted a survey on the occurrence of different species in major ecological zones of the country (Addai, 1998). Attempts to culture some of the species that he found were not very successful because of the problems associated with colony transfers from natural logs into designed wooden hives. Meliponiculture (stingless beekeeping) was revisited in 2005 when a four-member research team (authors of this paper) from the Department of Entomology and Wildlife, University of Cape Coast and 25 farmers drawn from five communities adjoining the Kakum National Park, established the International Stingless Bee Centre (ISBC). The Centre was built on 8 ha of land as a sanctuary and also to facilitate research, training and extension in meliponiculture in Ghana. On 24 June 2011, the fully established ISBC was officially opened to the public.
Table 1. Local and scientific names of stingless bee species identified in Ghana Genera
Local names (Akan)
Dactylurina
Dactylurina staudingeri
Tifuye
Meliponula
Meliponula bocandei Meliponula ferruginea Meliponula cameroonensis Meliponula beccarii Meliponula nebulata
Duro Kokoo/Ndowatia Duro Tuntum/Ndowatia Duro Tuntum/Ndowatia Duro Tuntum/Ndowatia Duro Tuntum/Ndowatia
Plebeina
PHOTOS © KWAME AIDOO
Scientific name
Hypotrigona Cleptotrigona
Plebeina hildebrandti
Hypotrigona gribodoi Hypotrigona ruspolii Hypotrigona araujoi
Cleptotrigona cubicepsa
Hives for wild colonies
Unknown
Mimina/Enihabowa Mimina/Enihabowa Mimina/Enihabowa Unknown
Colonies collected in the various ecological zones were brought to the ISBC for study. The colonies were stabilised for at least three months to enable the bees to acclimatise to new conditions. Appropriate wooden hives of the various species were designed and colonies transferred into them only during the dry season when forage was abundant. The ISBC is now focusing on the culture of three Meliponula species, two Hypotrigona species and one Dactylurina species out of the 11 species so far collected.
Utilisation of hive products and pollination services
Through various outreach programmes (training workshops, radio talks, newspaper articles, public lectures) the public in Ghana and some West African countries have been educated on the importance of stingless bees. Trials on the effectiveness and efficiency of stingless bees for pollinating cashew, citrus, cocoa and some vegetables (unpublished data) have been carried out. Laboratory investigations of stingless bee honey and propolis as potent medicines against eye infections and ulcers are in progress. The general public is very much interested in stingless bee culture and utilisation.
Storage pots of a Meliponula species 10
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Training
To build capacity in meliponiculture, beekeepers, extension agents and farmers from all 110 districts in the country were trained in batches. One participant came from Nigeria and others were drawn from a timber company that supported the development of beekeeping in the western region of Ghana. All the participants were well equipped to begin their own stingless beekeeping ventures.
Way forward
ISBC has plans to reach out to as many people (school children, students and the general public) as possible in Ghana and other countries of Africa on the importance of stingless bees in improving food security and environmental conservation. A training manual has been produced to facilitate future training and capacity building*. We plan to establish more satellite stations in Ghana and other West African countries, and further research will be conducted into the uses of bee products in primary health care. This will include laboratory investigations into the alleged cure of many ailments and diseases. The multiplication of colonies through the production of nuclei colonies for farmers, beekeepers and other interested people will be carried out at the ISBC. Further trials on the value of stingless bees for effective pollination of cultivated fruit crops and vegetables will be pursued. Continuous search and culture of new species for pollination and product development will be carried out.
Entrance to the International Stingless Bee Centre
The development of stingless bee culture is really a great initiative which we believe will have a spillover effect for other African countries. When this is achieved there will be more quality and quantity of food to feed the continent, and rural people can have better and cheaper access to health care. This will contribute to regeneration of forest biodiversity.
Acknowledgment
This project was supported with funds from Marlin Foundation through CS Fund, California, USA. We are grateful to the Ghana Heritage and Conservation Trust for providing the land on which the ISBC is built. Dr Kwame Aidoo is BfDJ’s Correspondent in Ghana.
Dr Rofela Combey explains a point on stingless bees to visitors
References
ADDAI,A. (1998) The study of stingless bees in Ghana. International Foundation for Science (IFS) Project report no. B/2303-1. Stockholm, Sweden.
HEARD,T.A. (1999) The role of stingless bees in crop pollination. Annual Review of Entomology (44): 183–206.
HEARD,T.A.; EXLEY,E.M. (1994) Diversity, abundance, and distribution of insect visitors to macadamia flowers. Environmental Entomology (23): 91–100.
ROUBIK,D.W. (1995) Pollination of cultivated plants in the tropics. FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin (118), Rome, Italy. ROUBIK,D.W. (1992) Stingless bees: a guide to Panamanian and Mesoamerican species and their nests (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponinae). In: Quintero,D.; Aiello,A. (Eds), Insects of Panamá and Mesoamerica, Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK, pp: 495–524.
Observation hive for Hypotrigona ruspolii
SLAA,E.J.; SÁNCHEZ,L.A.; SANDÍ,M.; SALZAR,W. (2000) A scientific note on the use of stingless bees for commercial pollination in enclosures. Apidologie (31): 141–142. *The manual Stingless bees - importance, management and utilization prepared by the research team is being distributed to beekeepers, farmers and extension agents trained in Ghana. Requests for the manual should be addressed to: The Director, International Stingless Bee Centre, University of Cape Coast, Ghana. Email: pkwapong@yahoo.com. The manual is reviewed on page 18.
A bee shed with hives 11
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NEWS AROUND THE WORLD CAMEROON
DR CONGO
PHOTOS © CEBAC
About 1,000 farmers are beekeeping in Oku. Honey is produced in great quantities and is good quality. Our apiaries are placed in areas with many bee trees and flowers. Two sorts of honey are harvested: white honey produced at altitudes of 2800-3011 m above sea level, and brown honey from the foot of Mount Kilum at altitudes below 2800 m.
PHOTOS © WONTSERDEV CIG
Before our workshop in February, we organised an outreach educational programme to 14 villages of Western Bakossi to introduce beekeeping as a profitable alternative to hunting and farming in the rainforest. The workshop helped our bee famers with information on good management, honey harvesting, use of beeswax and income generation, and its role in the conservation of virgin rainforest. All the workshop participants were happy with materials supplied by Bf D Trust and we will organise other workshops to educate bee farmers with the aid of the Bf D training modules. Participants in the beekeeping seminar organised by CEBAC-GIRDC held in Budjala in December 2010
Pasteur Sungu Abiangala, CEBAC, Budjala, DR Congo
KENYA
I started beekeeping in 1994 and have been determined to improve activities in the rural areas around my village. I needed to continue learning the latest information to apply it to our situation and realised that I must take courses and share my knowledge: the lack of correct information, unfounded beliefs, fear of the unknown and few resources can lead to bad decision making in the apiary. I would like to share my experiences and our achievements and setbacks in Kesogon Village. I heard an interview by the BfDJ Editor, on the BBC World Service Farming World programme and my desire to start beekeeping was sparked. I enquired about obtaining more information and was given contact details for Bf D. When I contacted them I was given a sponsored subscription to the Journal - which came in very handy for a beginner beekeeper in rural Kenya without professional extension assistance or material resources.
Honey bees in Oku produce two kinds of honey: brown and white
PHOTOS © PETER U OTENGO
Armed with information from BfDJ, I made my first top-bar hive from a discarded plastic water jerry can. This was an instant success - even before I could hang it in the apiary the bees started to use it as a hive. From there on we have been using and improvising with what is at hand to make homes for bees, who in turn pay back with the best products.
Oku valleys are covered in raffia used for making hives
We make local-style hives from grasses and raffia palm and they cost little or nothing to produce. This means that many people can become involved. Top-bar hives are gradually being introduced, and production of these hives will also be cheap.
Chiateh Kingkoh Godlove, WONTSERDEV CIG, Oku, Cameroon
Jerry can top-bar hive
Jerry can hive with top-bars. This was my first experience with bees and hives and the logic was simple. I cut one side of the can and made 12
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start beekeeping. It is a disadvantage and inappropriate for beekeeping enterprises because you also need extraction equipment.
some simple top-bars without any definite width measurement. The bars had been rubbed with beeswax as a starter strip. I attached a sack inside the jerry can for better movement of the bees. I smeared the hive with cow dung, and when this dried, I smoked it inside and made a top iron sheet cover.
While honey is often considered the most important reason to start beekeeping for someone in a rural area, there are other products that bring great value to village life when well utilised. Beeswax is often thrown away whenever nests have been plundered for honey from a hive or natural site. Wax can be used to make many other products (see page 3) and if well utilised a vibrant rural based income-creating micro industry can be created. I enjoy making beeswax soap. I harvest propolis because of its medicinal value. I process it using alcohol and vegetable oils. It is useful also for adding to soap products and skin creams made from wax.
Clay pot hive This idea came to me when bees colonised a broken clay pot put upside down in the backyard. Borrowing from this idea and thinking of
Peter Ukiru Otengo, Kitale, Kenya
MADAGASCAR
FENAM (Malagasy National Beekeepers’ Federation) was founded in 2009. We are lobbying for lifting the embargo so that we can export honey to Europe. The process may end this year - we are waiting for the EU to respond concerning the monitoring plan developed by Madagascar. The second aspect that concerns us is the fight against Varroa mite. This was recognised in Madagascar in February 2010 and has led to change in beekeeping in infested areas. The introduction of chemicals has not been approved and the only advice from the authorities is destruction of infested colonies*. Research to cope with the problem is underway. We are conducting two tests: strengthening the natural defences of the bees through research, and selecting resistant colonies. Also we are investigating the use of medicinal and aromatic plants as treatment. It is not only the negative effect of the loss of bees for farmers whose main source of income is beekeeping, there is also the risk of extinction of endemic plants for which bees provide pollination.
A claypot hive with honey chamber and behind frame hives with top-bars
better management and more sustainable ways of keeping bees in clay pots, I incorporated the idea of the double chamber of the frame hive. I drilled a hole in one of the pots to create a brood chamber. On the top, I placed a smaller pot as the ‘super’ or honey chamber. This made it easier and more efficient to harvest honey without destroying the brood. (See BfDJ 65 Clay pot hives - income for potters by Peter Otengo)
Cement hive with top-bars I have endeavoured to make a cement hive with top-bars. Wood is usually used for making hives, but it wears out, rots and is eaten by termites. A cement hive lasts forever and saves trees from being cut down for hive making. A challenge with cement hives is that they are very heavy so you have to place them on, or near the ground.
FENAM, Antananarivo, Madagascar
* It is a good approach to manage Varroa without chemicals, however it is completely unnecessary and undesirable to destroy colonies that have Varroa. As long as chemicals are not used, natural evolution of the bees will take place and bee populations will increasingly survive in the presence of the mite. [Ed] Information about EU regulations regarding honey are on our website at www.beesfordevelopment.org. More about Varroa in Africa, see Letter (page 14).
NIGERIA PHOTO © AKANDE AYOADE
Local-style log hives are cut from a tree trunk and traditionally have one hole in the centre used for the bee entrance and honey harvesting. This process tended to destroy the brood and many bees were crushed and burned with the fire torch. This weakens the colony. After studying the organisation of the bees in a hive I made a log hive with both ends open but with the bee entrance at one end. I used removable covers on both ends. This is because the queen will lay eggs near the entrance and the bees store honey at the other end. This makes for better management - it is easier to remove the honey and you stop when you reach the brood area, leaving it unharmed. This is also exciting because you spend less than ten minutes working on one hive (bearing in mind how our bees are defensive) and killing no bees. Log hives have been in use in Africa for centuries and bees like them. The honey is of high quality equal to that from other hives, wax is produced and if placed in the forest, the hives act as forest protectors.
Frame hive with top-bars I learned this idea from my friend Peter Paterson. Top-bar hives with sloping sides have been used because of concern that African bees tend to attach their combs to the vertical sides of a hive. However, since I started using frame hives with top-bars I have not experienced bees attaching combs on the side. Also, in some hives I restricted the queen to one chamber and in other hives I did not. The result was that hives with no queen excluder gave more honey than the others. I do not use a specific size for the top honey chamber. However the length of the top-bars is the same, to enable interchange.
We want to thank Bf D for support for beekeepers in Nigeria. We have empowered people on the use of beeswax to produce creams, shoe polish, candles and mascara in our seminar topic entitled Apicosmetology. The picture was taken during the seminar attended by over 200 people and supported by resource materials sponsored by Bf D Trust.
Frame hive I have one frame hive with two supers. To my disappointment there is no time when one super has been filled with honey. I was using a queen excluder and have decided to remove it and see if there is any improvement. This type of hive is very expensive for anyone wanting to
Akande Ayoade, Jorafarm Consultants, Ife, Nigeria 13
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AAA move
LETTER
The Asian Apicultural Association (AAA) has moved to its new office in ApiScience Information Services (ApiSIS). Our address:
A response to Varroa in tropical Africa
I would like to add to the comments made by Christian Akpoke in BfDJ 97. I strongly believe that our bees have the natural potential to resist, overcome or tolerate any abnormal condition or pest if managed naturally for the following reasons:
Asian Apicultural Association
ApiSIS, 5-6-3 Tamagawa Gakuen, Machida, Tokyo 194-0041, Japan
• I investigated the brood chambers of two colonies over a period of three years in the grounds of my home and not a single Varroa mite was seen.
Tel/Fax + 042-850-9198
In June, seven members of A Thousand Flowers for Bees went to Kunitachi City in Tokyo, and with people of the city sowed sunflower and cosmos seeds in an unused former paddy field of about 1,000 m2. The seeds were purchased with the support of Isetan Department Store.
• I replaced two colonies in the porch that were lost to Varroa by one old colony from the grounds of my home, and the second by natural colonisation using the same empty hive but after full sterilisation with hot water. After a few weeks I inspected the brood chambers and discovered Varroa in both colonies.
Congratulations on 100 issues of BfD Journal. It is really a great achievement.
Hitomi Enomoto, AAA Co-ordinator
• Some months later however, I observed that the presence of the mites did not affect the population of bees. The new colony was strong and active. After a month, it was ready for supering. The old colony had already been supered before it was transferred to the porch for proper investigation.
PHOTOS © Bf D
BfDJ is proud to be the official Newsletter of AAA
• In December 2009, I harvested 25.5 kg of honey from the old colony and by February 2010, I harvested 28 kg of honey from the same colony. The new colony performed beyond my expectations by producing 60 kg of honey per annum. • The strength and populations of the bees dropped drastically soon after the second harvest.
Conclusion It may be that the mites overcame the bees’ natural resistance only after honey harvest or that more honey than usual was removed which made the bees weak.
Mike Ukattah, Amachi Farms, Abia State, Nigeria
PHOTOS © TEMA FOUNDATION
Bf D Beekeepers Safaris
Rodrigues & Mauritius 13-24 November 2011 Trinidad and Tobago 9-19 January 2012 Turkey 7-19 July 2012 Details: www.beesfordevelopment.org
Cosmos is an easily grown annual with abundant, open flowers that provide useful forage for honey bees and many other insects 14
Bees for Development Journal 100
Trees bees use: Vitex orinocensis Rafael Thimann, Mesa de Cavaca, Guanare, Portuguesa Street, Venezuela Keywords: bee forage, Central America, honey production, Venezuela
Scientific name
Vitex orinocensis var multiflora
Family Verbenaceae
Name Aceituno in Venezuela; Totumito in Central America
Apicultural value
Vitex orinocensis is foraged by bees for nectar that produces amber honey with an excellent flavour. Recommended for honey production.
Flowering period
Vitex orinocensis can be considered a double-purpose tree for beekeepers because it blooms in the rainy season (May to August) when few other plants are flowering. It grows in the savannah areas and in the wet highlands, and depending on rainfall may have two flowering periods.
Flowers of Vitex orinocensis
Flowers
Vitex orinocensis produces many blue or purple flowers grouped in axial climax inflorescences. The blooming period lasts up to two weeks.
Honey
A light amber scented honey is harvested in April or May. The honey may be a little high in water content.
Botanical description
An erect trunk with a rounded canopy, growth up to 12 m. The fruit is a drupe with a brilliant-greenish colour at first becoming blackish when ripe. Vitex orinocensis is named Aceituno (Spanish for olive) because the fruits look like olives. The wood is used for fire and also for hedges and fences.
Leaves
Compound and opposite: one, two or three un-equal follicles; the middle one bigger than the others. Leaves are 3-12 cm long and 1-4 cm wide.
WHICH TREES DO YOUR BEES USE? Send information to the address on page 2
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LOOK AHEAD ARGENTINA
APIMONDIA 42nd International Apicultural Congress 21-25 September 2011, Buenos Aires Further details apimondia2011@mci-group.com
CANADA
APIMONDIA Symposium Queen Breeding, Selection & Honey Bee Health 15-18 November 2012, Quebec City Further details Pierre.Giovenazzo@bio.ulaval.ca
ETHIOPIA
3rd ApiExpo Africa 26-29 September 2012, Addis Ababa Further details www.apitradeafrica.org.uk
GERMANY
BEEDOC Workshop Control of Varroa destructor 30 August - 1 September 2011, Stuttgart, Hohenheim Further details eva.frey@uni-hohenheim.de
EurBee 5th European Conference of Apidology 4-6 September 2012, Halle an der Saale Further details www.eurbee2012.uni-halle.de
IRELAND
APIMONDIA Symposium Bee Health 20-22 March 2012, Dublin Further details www.beehealth2012.ie
MALAYSIA
11th Asian Apicultural Association Conference 28 September - 3 October 2012, Kuala Terengganu. Further details see page 20
SAN MARINO
APIMONDIA Symposium ApiEcoFlora 4-6 October 2012 Further details apimondia@sanmarinoconvention.sm
UK
80th National Honey Show 27-29 October 2011, Weybridge Further details wwwhoneyshow.org.uk
BBKA Spring Convention 20-22 April 2012, Stoneleigh Park near Coventry Further details www.britishbee.org.uk
UKRAINE
APIMONDIA 43rd International Apicultural Congress 15-20 September 2013, Kiev Further details www.apimondia2013.org.ua
VENEZUELA
11th Congreso Iberolatino Americano de Apicultura October 2012 Further details www.venezeulaapicola.org
LEARN AHEAD UK
Bees for Development Sustainable Beekeeping Course 1-2 October 2011, Ragman’s Lane Permaculture Farm, Gloucestershire
Strengthening livelihoods in developing countries by means of beekeeping 21 October 2011, Monmouth Further details www.beesfordevelopment.org
If you want notice of your conference, workshop or meeting to be included here and on our website send details to Bees for Development, address on page 20
NOTICE BOARD
25 YEARS Waasland Beekeepers Association in Belgium are celebrating their 25th year with an Apiaries of the World Exhibition. Details from willy.devriese1@gmail.com PROJECT FUNDING FAO, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, supports beekeeping projects in developing countries.
TeleFood Special Fund Beekeepers’ groups and associations may apply for small project funding of up to US$10,000. Request documents should include a brief description of project objectives, proposed food production or income-generating activities, work plan, number of participants, detailed list of inputs with cost estimates and reporting arrangements. Submit your request to the FAO or UNDP office in your country. See www.fao.org and inform Bf D of the outcome of your application.
1% for Development Fund Small grants to enable community based beekeeping projects in developing countries to get off the ground. Applicants must define clearly objectives and describe how they are to be attained. See One-Per-Cent-Fund@FAO.org APIACTA For the beekeeper and bee scientist Apiacta the Apimondia Journal. Available online from www.apimondia.org
BEE CRAFT UK Beekeeping Journal for beginners and seasoned apiarists. View a digital copy and subscribe on line at www.bee-craft.com
BEE CULTURE The magazine of American beekeeping 140 years experience. Today’s techniques. Tomorrow’s ideas. US$15 for a digital subscription. See www.BeeCulture.com ULUDAG BEE JOURNAL News, practical information and research articles. Published quarterly in Turkish with English summaries. See www.uludagaricilik.org
IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE BfD Journal offers a great opportunity to reach thousands of readers. Prices start from GBP35 (€42, US$60), various size ads available.
PROJECT PLANNERS Remember to include an allowance for publications and BfDJ subscriptions in your budget when writing proposals. We can help with expert advice and supply you with an appropriate beekeeping library. Also include participation costs for beekeeping meetings, such as the biennial Apimondia Congresses - see Look Ahead (above). 16
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AVAILABLE FROM Bf D NOW AT WWW.BEESFORDEVELOPMENT.ORG
BOOK SHELF HONEYBEES OF ASIA
edited by Randall Hepburn and Sarah E Radloff 2011 670 pages Hardback £155 (€2232) H255
The honey bee is one of the most researched and documented species after our own. Today we recognise nine species of Apis honey bees: Apis andreniformis, Apis cerana, Apis dorsata, Apis florea, Apis koschevnikovi, Apis laboriosa, Apis mellifera, Apis nigrocincta and Apis nuluensis. All of these, except Apis mellifera occur naturally in Asia. Yet most bee research has been conducted on Apis mellifera, and of the estimated 100,000 publications on honey bees, only around 4% of this literature concerns Asian honey bee species. This new text contributes to rectifying the consequences of this situation, bringing together detailed reviews by specialists in each field. The chapters cover: (1) The Asian species of Apis (2) Phylogeny of the Genus Apis (3) Biogeography (4) Asian honey bees and mitochondrial DNA (5) Genetic consideration (6) Biology of nesting (7) Absconding, migration and swarming (8) Comparative reproductive biology of honey bees (9) Pheromones (10) Honey bees in natural ecosystems (11) The pollination role of honey bees (12) Foraging (13) Energetic aspects of flight (14) The dance language (15) Diseases of Asian honey bees (16) Asian honey bee mites (17) Colony defence and natural enemies (18) Self assembly processes in honey bees: the phenomenon of shimmering and (19) Interspecific interactions among Asian honey bees. Finally Chapter 20 presents a bibliography of Asian species of honey bees that lists around 3,500 references by 3,000 authors, published between 1787 and 2009. Written by top experts in their fields, there is information here that has not yet been published in journals. This is therefore an essential text for everyone undertaking Asian honey bee research.
STINGLESS BEES IMPORTANCE, MANAGEMENT AND UTILISATION
Peter Kwapong, Kwame Aidoo, Rofela Combey, Afia Karikari 2010 72 pages See page 11 for information on obtaining copies
This is a highly original, well conceived and useful new text. It has brought together local and scientific knowledge, and presents these in a way that trainers and students can readily learn and understand. Part One provides general information on stingless bees - their biology, economic importance, how to culture them, and details of their products and marketing. Part Two describes the practice of stingless beekeeping: how to locate and capture wild nests, looking after the bees, harvesting from them, and utilising them for pollination. It also mentions how to help trainees to discover the aesthetic value of stingless bees and to encourage the public to understand the need for conservation of these bees and their habitats. The text will be a very useful aid to training, with each unit setting out learning objectives and then delivering the necessary details. Clearly illustrated and written in an understandable way, this text will be useful for training wherever stingless bees exist.
BEEKEEPING IN SOUTH AFRICA
M F Johannsmeier 2001 288 pages £24 (€336) J205
Bf D Store is now able to provide copies of the most recent edition of The Blue Book as Martin Johannsmeier's text has been popularly known since it was first published in 1973. It is written primarily for beekeepers in South Africa but is a useful reference for beekeepers throughout Africa as its almost 300 pages provide a great wealth of information on aspects of African apiculture. Practical beekeeping information focuses on the frame hive beekeeping practised in South Africa. Top-bar hives are covered while other African methods are mentioned very briefly. The text contains much useful detail about honey and beeswax harvesting and handling, and provides details not covered in other texts such as the poisoning of bees, crop pollination and beekeeping legislation.
BEE MANUAL
Claire and Adrian Waring 2011 169 pages Hardback £20.99 (€330) W205
For 50 years Haynes Publishing has produced manuals about car and motorcycle maintenance and many DIY-related topics. These manuals have been translated into numerous languages and are well known and used worldwide, appreciated for their exceptional clarity and practical approach. And now here is the Haynes Bee Manual, written by Claire and Adrian Waring, and with a foreword by (our own Bf D Trust Patron) Bill Turnbull. The text follows Haynes’ winning formula with an abundance of practical detail accompanied by excellently clear diagrams and colour pictures. It describes conventional, frame hive beekeeping as practised in the UK with indigenous Apis mellifera honey bees, and is an excellent guide for beekeepers who are using these resources.
ALSO NOW IN STORE
Backyard beekeeping and honey production by Phil Rant. 2011 112 pages £10.99 (€116.50) R215 Bumblebees Oliver E Prŷs-Jones and Sarah A Corbet. 2011 3rd edition 130 pages £20.99 (€331.50) P205 18
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Buying from Bf D
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WRITE ALL ABOUT IT
We accept articles and reports on innovative and improved beekeeping techniques, information about beekeeping in your country and your events. Comments and responses to articles we have published are encouraged. Our aim is to publish as much information in BfD Journal as possible. We may also include your information on our website and add it to our databank on beekeeping worldwide. Articles should be 800-1,600 words in length and accompanied by images.
Submit articles by post or email with attachments in Word format. Local terminology must be fully explained for the benefit of our international readership.
Images - digital or colour prints accepted. For best results digital images should be saved as individual files in the form and size created by the camera. Images sized for website use, or embedded in Word documents are unsuitable for printing purposes and cannot be used.
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Bees for Development Journal 100
11th Asian Apicultural Association Conference 28 September - 2 October 2012 Primula Hotel, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia REGISTRATION IS OPEN
• • • •
You are invited to submit abstracts for paper or poster presentations on:
Bee biology, pests and diseases Bee pollination Beekeeping and honey hunting with indigenous bees Beekeeping and honey hunting - technology and equipment • Bee products • Apitherapy • Beekeeping conservation and the environment
AAA assists communication and exchange of information
between bee scientists and beekeepers in Asia
www.asianbeeconference.org/11thaaaconference/
SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE Sponsored subscriptions to Bees for Development Journal are available for resource-poor beekeepers, projects, schools and groups in developing countries. Supported with funds raised by Bees for Development Trust
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Support for training
Bf D Training Booklets and Training Cards are for use by beekeeper trainers in Africa.
Each booklet provides one day of training on one topic. The cards provide pictures and plans illustrating techniques discussed in the booklets. These are included in our Resource Boxes for training events and workshops.
Projects and associations in developing countries are welcome to apply for a Sponsored Resource Box by filling out an application form on our website, or request the form by email. Projects in other areas can purchase Resource Boxes through our website store.
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