ZOOMING IN ON... CHINA Size China spans northern temperate, subtropical and tropical zones. It is huge country extending from high plateaux in the West to vast plains in the East. Mountains occupy one third of the land.
Beijing e
KOREA
PAKISTAN
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CHINA
TIBET
East China Sea
Population
Shanghai
1,057,210,000: a quarter of the world’s population. 80% live on small holdings farming less than 0.5 hectares.
INDIA
BHUTAN
Main crops Only one tenth of China is suitable for agriculture. Main crops are rice and cereals.
BURMA
TAIWAN
Honeybees
VIETNAM LAOS
Apis cerana is native and present throughout
China. Apis mellifera ligustica was introduced in 1893. ; andreniformis, Apis dorsata, Apis florea, Apis wuvriosa and Apis mellifera ligustica are present in
south-west frontier areas.
Beexecping Apiaries are generally run by families, with typically 50-80 colonies. There are some largescale beekeeping operations with thousands of colonies. There is much migratory beekeeping ie the moving of colonies by truck or train to different plants as they come into flower. It is also necessary to move bees frequently to protect them from pesticides, which are used extensively. In the winter and spring there is mass production of Apis mellifera colonies in the tropical and subtropical zones: many of these are then used elsewhere in China. Apis cerana are preferred to the introduced Apis mellifera in the subtropical areas: it is found that native Apis cerana are better suited to predators and the prevailing weather conditions. “-mnber of beekeepers
000 beekeepers. Number of frame hives 6.8 million colonies of Apis mellifera in frame hives. 2.5 million colonies of Apis cerana in frame hives. Although the majority of Apis cerana colonies are housed in frame hives some are still kept in round, wooden buckets. Melliferous vegetation China is such a huge country that there is a great range of plants for bees to live on. However the plants most important for large
honey crops include: acacia, buckwheat, chaste tree, Chinese tallow tree, citrus, clover, cotton, eucalyptus, jujube, linden, lychee, melilot, milk vetch, oil seed and sunflower.
Total annual honey production: 204,000 tonnes of which about 70,000 tonnes (34%) is exported. Annual honey production per colony Apis cerana in frame hives: 15-20 kg.
Nae
A large packing plant
in Shanghai processes about one fifth of the whole honey harvest of China, Although China is producing considerable amounts of honey, for most Chinese people it is still a luxury, expensive item which is not widely available. It is generally taken for medicinal purposes. Other products
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Royal jelly: 800 tonnes per year (80% of world production). Pollen: 1000 tonnes per year. Beeswax and propolis are also harvested on a large scale. China produces a great number of foods, medicines and ointments containing honey or other hive products.
AAA Chapter
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Professor G H Yang, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Xiangshan, Beijing. Dr Wei-Yi Wang, Hangzhou Pollen Co Ltd, 5 Baoling Road, Shan, Hangzhou.
Many beekeepers will be zooming in on China for the 33rd Apimondia International Apicultural Congress in September. For six days there will be discussions and presentations of information on all aspects of bees and beekeeping. There will also be technical visits to apiaries, institutes and honey packing plants. See Look Ahead for further details.
As the world’s major honey exporting country, China has much to interest beekeepers.
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published by the Institute of Apicultural Research.
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body. It can relieve pain and quench thirst, and prolong life for a long
time’. ‘
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DL (an ar cient pharmacopoeia of Chinese medicinal herbs) DOMENHONY
Cidssits,
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Four year courses in apiculture are run by the Fujian Agricultural University. Many other universities and secondary diploma schools offer courses in apiculture.
Journal
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Training
Chinese Apiculture,
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“Honey tastes sweet and without toxicity. It is good for the human
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Apis mellifera in frame hives: 25-40 ke
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Beekeeping Associations The Chinese Beekeepers’ Association, The Apicultural Association of China, Chinese Bee Products Society, Chinese Bee (Apis cerana) Co-ordination Committee, and Regional Beekeepers Associations. Beekeeping Centres Institute of Apicultural Research Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xiang Shan 100093, Beijing. This Institute has five departments and employs over 120 staff. There are regional beekeeping institutes and government beekeeping departments in most provinces.
Apis cerana in wooden buckets: 5kg.
(3-4 extractions).
South China Sea
Royal jelly mixed with ginseng worldwide as a health food
is
exported
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