Hive Aid - Beekeeping in Syria

A GTZ-financed promotion of beekeeping in Syria

Honey has always been something special in Syria. It is regarded not so much as a foodstuff but as tonic and remedy for illness.

In Syria beekeeping is principally a supplementary source of income. Most beekeepers are farmers, but many government employees, such as teachers or agricultural extension officers also keep bees. It is not unusual for their income from beekeeping to exceed their salaries.

Traditionally bees are kept in earthenware pipes, but these are being superseded by Langstroth (movable frame) hives.

The Varroa threat

When Varroa was first brought into the country some ten years ago the resulting epidemic led to devastating losses of bees, from which Syria has still not recovered. About 50% of colonies died while the strength and performance of those that survived was considerably reduced. It must be assumed that al] bee colonies are now infested with Varroa mites.

Initial control of the epidemic was frustrated by the lack of an effective control strategy, by the traditional bee hives which do not permit disease inspection, by the lack of medicines, and by the non-existence of distribution network for medicines. Furthermore, a rapid and effective transfer of know-how was hindered partly because beekeepers were not organised, and also by the underdevelopment of extension services.

Beekeepers Association

The ongoing GTZ project “Extension in animal production and animal health” in the Ministry of Agriculture took up the Varroa problem and used it as an opportunity for initiating GTZ-financed measure to control Varroa and promote beekeeping in general. The executing organisation was the newly-founded Syrian Beekeepers’ Association (SBA).

In 1988 the proposal to found beekeepers’ association was adopted and within only a few months SBA had 70 members and central office in Damascus.

Today the organisation is well established with 1700 members and undertakes activities in addition to Varroa control.

Following the country-wide response received by the Damascus association SBA was organised regionally. Monthly meetings are now held in Damascus and the regional centres, and there is an exchange of experience between beekeepers, lectures are held, and information is distributed. Apart from Varroa control, members are primarily interested in rearing queens to increase honey yield and reduce aggressiveness in local bee colonies.

Local bees are in fact so aggressive that if colonies are disturbed they constitute threat to humans and other animals in the immediate vicinity. Hence work at the hive is only possible with suitably thick protective clothing.

Project activities

At first the project focused on Varroa control. The services of short-term bee expert from Germany were enlisted to organise workshops for the beekeepers. Lectures dealt with both Varroa and the possibilities offered by modern beekeeping. To ensure the sustainability of this measure important information was translated into Arabic and sent to SBA members.

The second activity was queen rearing. SBA is now collecting data on the performance and temper of individual bee colonies. Without data of this kind it is impossible to engage in selective queen rearing.

Thirdly the project aimed to improve the availability of tools, equipment, protective clothing and machines Much of this material is not available to Syrian beekeepers, either because it 1s too expensive or because there are import problems. However there is large reservoir of skilled craftsmen (carpenters, tailors) who can make the objects needed by beekeepers locally and at reasonable prices.

Project impact

Beekeepers are now considering ways of marketing their honey through SBA with suitable trademarks and quality controls. They are able to control Varroa effectively and at reasonable cost. They have access to aids that increase production, such as a highly productive and “tame” bees, modern bee hives, honey extractors and protective clothing.

As a result, production and incomes have risen, and the general public and beekeepers alike benefit from a flourishing beekeeping industry.

GTZ

GTZ is DeutscheGesellschaft fiir Technische Zusammenarbeit, the government of Germany's aid organisation.

Dr Gerhard Barnicket, GTZ Government Advisor, Ministry of Agriculture, Damascus, Syria

Dr Stotz, GTZ Planning Officer, Eschborn, Germany