Bees for Development Journal Edition 36 - September 1995 by Bees for Development

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BEEKEEPING

DEVELOPMENT

World Vision Award for Development Initiative 1990

INSIDE INFORMATION

Co-ordinator: Helen Jackson

iterns to be reproduced or translated but please acknowledge B&D and the author of the item. Please send us a copy of the reproduced or translated item,

PUBLISHERS

ASIAN APICULTURAL ASSOCIATION

EDITORIAL OFFICE Editor: Dr Nicola Bradbear

Bees for Development, Troy, Monmouth,

Apimondia Gold 1989, Bronze 1993

NP5 4AB, United Kingdom

B&D is the official newsletter of the Asian Apicultural Association,

Telephone: 44(0) 16007 13648

SPONSORS

Fax: 44(0) 16007 16167

The journal has been sponsored in part by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United The also journal Nations. receives sponsorship from CTA, The Netherlands.

E-Mail: 100410.2631@CompuServe.COM

PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION Beekeeping & Development is

published four

times every year. of each

edition are printed distributed world-wide by air mail post. 4000 copies

We are grateful to our sponsors and the many groups and individuals who are supporting Bees for Development.

and

REPRODUCTION Information in B&D is intended to help beekeepers everywhere. We are happy for

IN THIS

ISSUE cette reece 2

ApiMONdid

Practical Beekeeping Le ers

4 5

News Around the World........

Raftering:

.........

Trees Bees Use

Look & Learn Ahead

Notice Board

Bookshelf

Zooming in on

Venezuela.

~\V

Alpenhorns welcomed delegates to the XXXIV Apimondia World Beekeeping Congress in Lausanne, Switzerland in August.

And, of course, Bees for Development was there too. It gave us an excellent chance to meet our supporters, and for many people to find out about our work.

huge meeting of over 9000 people interested in bees in one way or another: bee scientists, equipment makers, bee product traders, bee breeders, but most of al beekeepers. For beekepers, the Apimonia ongress provides the perfect excuse to think and talk about bees for five days non-stop.

Most of the exhibits at the Apimondia exhibition were of high-technology equipment with correspondingly high prices labels.

It was a

It would hardly be possible for anyone to attend all the events taking place during the Apimondia Congress. Apimondia deals with the wide subject area of apiculture by dividing it into seven ‘Standing Commissions’.

These are: apitherapy, bee biology, beekeeping economy, beekeeping in developing countries, beekeeping technology, bee pathology, and melliferous flora and pollination. Each of these Standing Commissions has its own programme, with talks and poster presentations, and discussion meetings on

COVER PICTURE: Our cover picture

shows a beekeeper in

tropical forest in Vietnam who has just finished constructing a rafter. What is it for? Find out on page eight.

TWO

We need more sponsors urgently. Please contact us direct if you can help.

special topics. In addition to these programmes there are the exhibitions from around the world, beekeeping film shows, competitions, beekeeping displays, and visits to local beekeepers.

Many commented that Bees for Development’s display of simple equipmer~

provided a welcome alternative oasis: the and bark hives majestically suspended amongst our “tropical forest” attracted

enquirers and

great deal of attention.

Apimondia is the union of the world’s beekeeping associations. Apimondia Headquarters are in Rome, Italy, with a Publishing House in Bucharest, Romania.

The International Congress takes place every two years. The next Apimondia Congress will be a special celebration for Apimondia’s centenary year, and will be held in Antwerp Belgium. Apimondia 1999 will be in Canada, and in 2001 the XXXVII Congress will be held in South Africa.

A Bees for Development publication

DEVELOPMENT

ALAN MORLEY

BEEKEEPING

The

Bees for Development evhilil

Apion dia

attracted many interested visitors

A Organisations and efforts that purposely

given the more appropriate title of

THE APIMONDIA STANDING COMMISSION FOR BEEKEEPING IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT Because we are aware of the need for beekeeping development we recommend that: 1.

Apimondia should focus more attention on subsistence-level beekeepers. Apimondia should pay special! attention, and support should be given to sustainable beekeeping practices in forest and ecologically endangered areas. Apimondia should relax the rules of admission to Apimondia for developing beekeeping associations.

Apimondia should encourage co-operative support between well-established and developing beekeeping associations.

Organising Committees should allocate exhibition space free of charge for delegates from developing countries to display their activities (non-commercial). 6. Donor organisations should support requests for beekeepers from developing countries to participate in the Apimondia Congress in Antwerp, Belgium in 1997 and future Apimondia Congresses. 7. Donor organisations take an active part in supporting information exchange on a regional level.

Anyone may submit a paper to be considered for presentation at an Apimondia Congress.

Organisations and efforts that focus on issuing honey labels and qualifications for ecologically and socially soundly produced honey, which might apply to beekeeping in jJarge regions in developing countries (eg tropical forests and wetlands) with traditional

For details of how to submit a paper write to: APIMONDIA, Secretary General, Corso

Vittorio Emanuele 101, 1-00186 Rome, Italy.

beekeeping practices.

PLEASE NOTE:

We therefore recommend that the Standing Commission for Beekeeping Economy, or the Standing Commission for Beekeeping in Rural Development, of Apimondia, invite these organisations to the specialist sessions on Bee Product Trading and Commerce at the next Apimondia Congress.

Apimondia

is not a

funding

organisation: you need to find your own funding to participate

With regard to the introduction of honeybees to new areas: Apimondia recognises the important role of indigenous honeybees for biodiversity.

Therefore: 1.

A Bees for Development publication

THE NEXT CONGRESS?

seek to arrange fair trading possibilities especially for groups of small producers in developing regions (for example Transfair International and Max Havelaar).

RECOMMENDATION That this Standing Commission is henceforth

WOULD YOU LIKE TO PARTICIPATE

We want Apimondia to draw broad attention to:

We resolve that global transport of Apis (honeybees) into areas containing endemic Apis species be discouraged. We also recommend that their social, biological and monetary value be

established. 2.

We resolve that special emphasis be given to the Asian honeybee Apis cerana in its natural territory as an economical honey producer in that region with necessary scientific, technological and

ALAN MORLEY

Each Standing Commission prepares a vumber of resolutions. Their purpose is to serve as a written record of important conclusions from the Congress. These are the Resolutions of the Standing Commission for Beekeeping in Developing Countries:

economic investigations. An impromptu discussion

hosted by

Bees for Development!

THREE

BEFKEEPING

DEVELOPMENT

DON’T FIDDLE WITH THE TOP-BAR HIVE! by

A reply to the article by Mark Luckhurst, Kenya, A frame for the Kenya

Bernhard Clauss, Germany

Your statements, Mark, very much resemble the position of a typical frame hive beekeeper who surprisingly finds himself confronted with a new beekeeping technology without having been introduced

top-bar hive published in June B&D 35

to it.

Quite obviously you missed the idea of a simple, but mature hive design, modern, adapted and appropriate technology on its own, the top-bar hive. Modern - in comparison with conventional frame hives, and appropriate - to the needs and means of local people. Adapted to the biology and behaviour of the notorious “African honeybee”. a

PRACTICAL EFBEEKEEPING

a consequence you seem to regard the topbar hive as an intermediate design in need of improvement, and there must of course be frames!

To go into more detail with my comments: 1.

You have come to the somewhat puzzling conclusion that frames have not been “developed” for the Kenya top-bar hive, because:

itis

of its sloping sides

a hive

suitable for rural beekeepers

the horizontal top-bar hive was developed as an alternative to vertically supering frame hive systems. Its simple and “bee-friendly” design was a response to the inappropriateness of the complicated, capital-intensive frame hive

BERNHARD CLAUSS

In fact,

i vs

hie

and honey processing technologies, as far as African, rural, sideline beekeepers are concerned,

The sloping sides of the Kenya top-bar hive reduce the attachment of (honey}combs, an advantage, which may compensate for the disadvantage of the more complicated cutting pattern compared to the straight-sided Tanzanian top-bar hive. .

The use of “movable combs” excludes migratory beekeeping, naturally, but the use of movable combs does not exclude the use of centrifugal extractors. There are several African and Asian designs which are feasible, above ali, the one which has been in use by the Kenyan Nightingale family. However, this feasibility does not mean automatically that a centrifuge is a realistic option for the rural small-scale beekeeper (see “transport” below).

Surprisingly you yourself seem to put little emphasis on the use of extractors. At the end of your article one wonders why you come to harvest comb honey from (wired!) frames. In this context you forgot to explain why a~ framed comb is of “increased harvest value” compared to a suspended comb. How could this be possible, especially as you did not apply any foundation? You mention the disadvantage of handling fragile combs during top-bar hive inspections. Of course, one has to adapt to the top-bar system which requires careful handling of bees and combs. But any technology, especially when “natural”, requires a certain amount of sensibility and specific adaptation!

You mention hive inspection and honey cropping after dusk as being a disadvantage (because of soiled and inferior honeycombs), and you favour frames in the interest of seasonal migratory beekeeping. These facts have to be discussed in context: Zambian traditional beekeepers are teaching us an impressive lesson. The vast majority of 15,000 beekeepers in the North Western Province prove that daylight cropping and subsequent proper grading of honey are possible, if colonies are treated sensibly

(Figure !).

Figure

Daylight honey harvesting is

possible if done with care

FOUR

These beekeepers generally cover long distances on footpaths through the woodlands, thus transporting tremendous

A Bees for Development publication

BEEKEEPING

DEVELOPMENT

306

loads of comb honey in buckets or basins on their head (Figure 2) or tied to bicycles. At home the produce is either brewed or pressed. wonder whether comb honey in frames would be an advantage here? If people realise that frames for their Kenya top-bar hives mean an additional labour input instead of being more profitable, they will forget about them very soon. So why frames for top-bar hives, when problems even arise when attention has to .? be paid to issues like “bee space” |

a number of open questions and problems remaining with the top-bar hive system. For example:

There are

technical improvements, like designs of top-bars, starter strips, position and number of hive entrances;

the search for and testing of various local construction materials other than expensive wooden planks;

adapted and respectful handling of bees during daylight and under appropriate climatic conditions;

proper treatment of hive products, fearless beekeeping to be learnt and demonstrated by training and extension

personnel; @

consistent long-term training and extension services; exchange of views and experiences at least on a regional level.

These problems can be solved when systematic trials accompany long-term training and extension programmes. The “Ruai Frame” you are promoting may well create wrong expectations, irritations, and even new problems among top-bar hive beekeepers, extension and training personnel, and last, but not least among the readers of B&D.

All of us dealing with the top-bar hive system should not question this technology in principle. It is not necessary to expose ourselves to the critics of those among framehive beekeepers who fail to understand differences of appropriateness among the various beekeeping technologies!

Figure 2. Agnes, a woman beekeeper in Kasempa District of Zambia carries her honey harvest home

A Bees for Development jaiblication

LETTER TO Bees for Development It was very nice to visit the stand

of the journal for sustainable beekeeping: Beekeeping & Development at the recent

Apimondia Congress. The log hive in their display was considered a curiosity by many visitors. But we should not forget that we also used the same type of hives in Europe. If we are serious about the environment and trying to develop a sustainable society we are forced to work together. Knowledge from traditional beekeepers that work on a small-scale is very valuable. Biological control, natural products, natural genetic selection are as important to us in my part of the world as in developing countries. If we are all going to survive on this planet, we have to co-operate with all parts of the world.

Mariet Brandwijk, Sweden

TIVE

BEEKEEPING

DEVELOPMENT

HIVE AID Api-Promo - Promotion of small-scale beekeeping in developing countries

NG CONFERENCE AL NATIONAL BEEKEL G AND NATION

It is hoped that developing

countries will benefit from Api-Promo in the following ways: Activities of on-going projects can be optimised through the international information network Api-Promo provides; Standards for the assessment of strategies and promotional activities for the most important fields of beekeeping will be developed. Considering regional aspects and problems, these standards will be put at the disposal of the projects;

Api-Promo will support government and NGOs offering extension and other services for beekeeping;

The project may also secure co-operation with German and international institutions in case close scientific assistance is needed.

For more information contact:

Api-Promo GTZ, Bieneninstitut, Webhlstrasse 4a, 29221 Celle, Germany. Fax: 49 5141 6048. The Project Co-ordinator is Mr Werner Lohr or

GTZ-HO, Department 422, Ms Annette von Lossau, Room 1476, Postfach 5180, 65726.Eschborn, Germany. Fax: 49 6196 79 6103

SIX

23" TREASURY

MAG!

ELOPMENT

Wes

pang,

wns lay 4

KWAME AIDOO

May 1995 the German Centre for Technical Co-operation (GTZ), on behalf of the Ministry of Economics and Co-operation started the three year Api-Promo project. The objective is to support farmers and beekeepers to make better use of natural resources in beekeeping. A concept for sustainable promotion of beekeeping will be designed and applied in several countries,

EEPERS ASSOCIATION GHABA

probable source is European queens imported into South Africa by legal or illegal means, regularly for the last 100 years. “Sooner or later such foolishness was bound to have a ,

price’, says Dr Allsopp. Source:

Capensis, January 1995

The ‘Bolga Na-aba’ the Chief of Bolgatanga addressing delegates at the Conference. On his left is the Deputy Minister

for Agriculture in charge of the Upper East Region of Ghana.

GHANA The Second Conference of the Ghana Beekeepers’ Association (GHABA) was held in Bolgatanga in March 1995. Over 100 delegates from all over Ghana took part. The theme of the Conference was “Beekeeping and National Development”. A workshop on the first day covered apitherapy, appropriate hives for Ghana, and stingless bee beekeeping.

A speech from the Minister of Food and Agriculture brought some good news: a National Beekeeping Project is being launched in 1995. Included in the project is the transfer of improved beekeeping practices to farmers through the Extension Services Department. GHABA will be contracted to train all these front-line staff to effect the new programme. During the Conference the first school of beekeeping, founded in 1994 by Mr Alias Ayeebo, was inaugurated. Seventy-two students are following an 18-month intensive programme which includes beekeeping, afforestation, botany, business studies, rural development and woodwork. Many students plan to set up their own beekeeping projects upon graduation.

visit to local beekeepers and places of interest in the region concluded the activities of this three-day Conference.

Mrs Margaret Barbour, President of the Royal Warrant Holders’ Association, congratulates James Hamill on his scholarship

James Hamill, whose family have been beekeepers for three generations, has won a Queen Elizabeth Scholarship worth 6,000. James combines an acting career with beekeeping, which he began commercially in 1985. He opened The Hive Honey Shop in London in 1992 and makes over 80 handmade bee-related products from Victorian and Edwardian recipes for sale. He maintains 100 colonies, breeds queen bees, builds his own hives and equipment, runs adult evening courses, and free bee courses for children in his shop which contains an observation hive. As a collector of hives from around the world, he is currently recreating an octagonal tiered hive drawn by Christopher Wren (the architect of St Paul's Cathedral), from designs

published in 1655.

Kwame Aidoo, B&D’s correspondent in Ghana

ZAIRE

SOUTH AFRICA

Beekeeping in Bas Zaire

The tracheal mite Acarapis

has been found on Apis mellifera capensis queens for shipment to Germany. Dr Mike Allsopp suggests the woodi

Honey hunting has been a traditional activity in the Bas Zaire region for many years. Honey is often taken from wild colonies in holes in

A Bees for Development publication

BEEKEEPING

ERITREA

DEVELOPMENT

on) AYS 650

SEUEAY GAnTGETan

400 000

Tian

Sane

Ses

70.009,

HE WORLD

the ground, old termite hills, and trees. However there appears to be good potential for improved beekeeping.

new map of Eritrea. The text is written in Tygrinia and explains that the reader should be like the honeybee: organised, busy, co-operative and productive!

funding from Christian Aid, was set up at Mbanza Nzundu by the Salvation Army who had a youth camp *h-~re surrounded by an area of forest. Peace ps Volunteers ran the project using top-bar hives. In 1981 a trial apiary, with

Development

by Reinhard Fichil, and was designed by the

seen hives made with bricks (figure 2) or from metal oil drums cut in half. In each case the standard 50 cm long top-bar is used (figure 3).

The hives are usually placed in patches of thick bush, which provide shade and reduce the risk of attack to passers-by and livestock. Bees are hindered from following the beekeeper home, after he or she has taken the honey crop, when there is plenty of undergrowth and the path to the village is narrow and twists through the bush! It also means that the hives are preserving small areas of natural woodland allowing trees to grow to a reasonable height. Siam weed, Chromolaena odorata, though a much maligned plant, and common in much of West and Central Africa, appears to be the main source of the pleasant dark golden honey.

PAUL LATHAM

At first there was a good deal of suspicion when local people saw the long boxes in clearings in the forest, sometimes thinking them to be coffins, especially when they were visited by people dressed up in bee suits! Swarms entered the hives of their own accord or colonies were transferred from where they were established in tree stumps and holes in the ground. Though some of these transfers where unsuccessful, gradually the number of successful hives was increased. Local farmers were taught how to look after their own colonies and harvest the honey without destroying the bees at the same time. Protective clothing was made from flour sacks and smokers from scrap metal and inner tubes fram tyres (figure 1). As the potential for keeping was realised the programme spread into new villages throughout the Bas Zaire region.

The map was sent to Bees for Capuchin Brothers in Eritrea.

Figure

Paul Latham

local blacksmith with a range of

products, including a smoker

The Project Apicole/Agricole is now based at Kavwaya, near inkisi/Kisantu and a beekeepers’ co-operative has been formed. Currently it has 1025 members and last year harvested about seven tonnes of honey.

A group of beekeepers visited near Kavwaya |

One of the main problems being faced by beekeepers is the cost and difficulty of obtaining timber for making hives. Beekeepers are therefore turning to other materials. have |

A Bees for Development publication

PAUL LATHAM

women. To them, beekeeping has become an important source of income. Yields may be comparatively low, probably 10 litres of honey per hive, with honey selling at USS2 per litre, but it is nevertheless proving of great help to their families.

PAUL LATHAM

in July 1995 had 30 members, 21 of them

Figure 2. Brick hive made with burnt bricks and cement. Other hives were made from burnt bricks held together with

Figure 3. Top-bars

fora

brick hive

mud. In that case the metal cover would need to be larger.

SEVEN

BEEKEEPING

HOW TO MAKE A RAFTER

The single comb of an

Apis dorsata

nest

A tree trunk of length 1.8-2.2 m and diameter 10-20 cm is split lengthways into two parts to make two rafters (Figure 2). A rectangular or triangular hole is made at one end of the rafter (when the rafter is erected, the hole is slotted over the top of the higher vertical pole (Figure 3)). channel A

is often made along

The giant honeybee Apis dorsata is native to tropical and subtropical Asia. The bees build their nests from the branches of big trees and tall, projecting cliffs. Occasionally colonies build nests on high water towers or the roofs of buildings. The nest comprises a single comb in the open air. Apis dorsata are defensive and migratory, and

the domestication of this bee was thought

impossible. In some Melaleuca forests of southern Vietnam, people use a traditional method of collecting honey and wax from Apis dorsata colonies. This method of “rafter beekeeping” was first reported in 1902 by Fougeres',

According to Vietnamese sociologists, in the early 19th century honey hunting or raftering was the most important occupation of the people who lived in the Melaleuca forest swamp. At that time people paid taxes to the government in exchange for living in the forest. Beeswax was used to pay tax and for making candles and was sold to visiting ships from Hainan, China?’. Between 1945 and 1975 the forests were devastated first by wars, and then by forest clearing for wood and agricultural purposes. As a consequence rafter beekeeping dramatically decreased in the area.

Today the technique is still used at the state farm of Song Trem in Uminh forest, South Vietnam. According to our survey there are about 96 beekeepers in the area. In 1991 they harvested 16,608 litres of honey and 747 kg of

the flat side of the rafter to drain off rain water so that it does not seep into the comb. The bark is removed and some beekeepers cover the curved side with a thin layer of beeswax.

HOW TO ERECT A RAFTER The beekeeper chooses a quiet, open space in the Melaleuca forest, or makes one by cutting down some tall trees. The direction of the rafter is decided before the vertical

poles are positioned (Figure 4). The rafter is supported by the higher pole with the hole in the rafter slotting over the end of the pole (Figure 3). The lower pole supports the rafter with its V-shaped top (Figure |) or as shown in Figure 3. The curved side of the rafter must face downwards.

Figure

rafter (2 m)

lower pole (1.2 m)

higher pole (2 m)

bee comb

ground

wax.

triangular hole

WHAT IS A RAFTER? Simply, a rafter is the trunk of a tree, min length and 15 cm in diameter supported by two vertical poles. One vertical pole is about 2 m high and the second 1.2 m high. The rafter therefore slopes at an angle of about 15-35° to the horizontal. It appears like the branch of a tree and Apis dorsata can build its nest beneath it. [t is named rafter because it looks like the

(

The rafter is covered by branches

EIGHT

Melaleuca

Figure 3

(or

pole

rafter of a house.

A Bees for Development publication

)

BEEKEEPING

Grasses and small trees beneath the rafter are cleared. Finally the rafter is shaded using small branches and leaves. The rafter is now an ideal place for an Apis dorsata colony to build its nest.

HOW TO HARVEST HONEY AND WAX A good beekeeper knows when the honey is ripe for harvest by

observing Melaleuca in flower, or the water

collecting activity of the worker bees. On average the first harvest can take place 20-30 days after the rafter is occupied. The second harvest can be carried out about 30 days later. It is possible to harvest a third time from these colonies.

The bees are chased away using a torch of dry leaves and Melaleuca leaves. This used to be the main cause of forest fires in the area and therefore since 1993 smokers have been used. Honey is stored in the highest part of the comb and it is cut off without destroying the brood. Beekeepers usually cut a part of the brood from a big colony because they believe that if they do not the next harvest will be smaller. This does not seem logical - the more bees, the more honey produced for harvesting.

It is possible however, that when the brood is cut, queen cells are removed which prevents swarming.

Honey is squeezed, filtered and then sold in the local markets. Beeswax is harvested from the honeycombs. Very little wax is taken from old brood combs.

DEVELOPMENT

STOP PRESS An excellent video of this rafter beekeeping was awarded The Gold Medal at the Apimondia Congress in Lausanne in August 1995.

Copies of the video are available from Bees for Development - see “Bookshelf” page 13 for more information.

FLOWER SUPPLY AND HONEY HARVEST SEASONS The Melaleuca forest in Vietnam is located in Asia’s tropical monsoon area. The weather is generally hot and humid. There are two season in the year: the dry season from December to April and rainy season from May to November. Melaleuca is the main forage plant in the forest, with other flowers in small quantities. Melaleuca blooms mostly from January to April and June to August. The bees come to the area in December and stay unti] May. The first honey harvest is between February and April. In May the colonies fly away and return in June. The second honey harvest season is in July and August after which the bees depart. At other times of the year some Apis dorsata colonies can be found in the Melaleuca forests, but honey is stored only in small amounts.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION agreement with Crane et al 1992', Mulder 1992*, and Mardan 1993°; we would like to recommend this technique in other swamp forests of Asia in areas rich in flowers but poor in natural nesting sites for Apis dorsata. We also request support to help us to continue research and production activities in the area. In

Newly prepared rafters

split lengthways |

REFERENCES

Figure 2

OW)

Crane,E, Luyen,V V, Ta,C; Mulder,V (1992) Traditional management system for Apis dorsata in submerged forests in southern Vietnam and

central Kalimantan. 2.

Bee World

Dau,Nguyen Dinh (1992) Personal communication.

Mardan,M (1993) Rafter beekeeping with the Asiatic giant honeybee (Apis dorsata) in Vietnam, Beenet Online

Vol 4

(1).

Mulder,V {1992} Honey and wax production in submerged Melaleuca forests in Vietnam BosNiEuSLETTER 26 Vol 11(2).

Son Nam (1993 reprint) Dat Gia dinh xua (The ancient Southern part).

Ho Chi Minh City Publishing House, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.

An Apis dorsata nest after

A Bees for Development publication

two harvests have been taken

NINE

BEEKEEPING

DEVELOPMENT

ZIZIPHUS SPINA-CHRISTI Christ’s thorn

Reinhard Fichtl

Apicultural value Christ's thorn is one of the most important nectar and pollen sources of Eritrea and Yemen. Honeybees forage on the abundant nectar and pollen and in dense stands the bees will produce a significant surplus of honey. In most cases the pollen and nectar of a single tree will strengthen colonies and significantly stimulate brood rearing. REINHARD FICHTL

Recommended for planting to increase honey production Family Rhamnaceae

Description A shrub, or more often 10 m in

a tree

The name “spina-christi” derives from the legend that Jesus Christ was crowned with the branches of this Ziziphus species.

growing up to

height. ALL

Bark: grey to brown and fissured. Branchlets: whitish to pale yellow. Thorns: numerous spines, paired, one straight, ‘one curved.

Leaves: ovate to elliptic, finely toothed. Flowers: yellowish green, arranged in many flowered cymes.

Fruit: yellow to red, globose, up to diameter, edible.

mm in

Flowering: trees are found in flower throughout the year. Distribution introduced and naturalised in many tropical countries. Its native habitat is throughout the Sahel from Senegal in West Africa to Ethiopia and Eritrea in East Africa. It is widespread in the Near and Middle East, and in the dry areas of northern Africa. It is

The Canst’s

ern Ziziphus spina-christi

suitable for making furniture, tools, posts, poles, and construction work, and especially for turning work, such as the extraction of oil from sesame seeds.

The leaves are browsed by camels, goats and sheep. It is often planted ornamentally and for shade. Also it is used as a living fence and sometimes as a boundary marker. In traditional medicine the leaves and bark are used to cure dandruff and stomach disorder: The seeds are used to cure throat infections and as a conditioner to encourage hair growth. The roots are used to treat headaches and

tonsillitis.

Habitat Ziziphus fruit

for sale

REFERENCES 1.

Amanuel.G (ed) (1994) Indigenous trees and shrubs of Eritrea. Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Asmara, Eritrea.

Hedberg,!; Edwards,S (eds) (1989) Flora of Ethiopia. Volume 3: Pittosporaceae to Araliaceae National Herbarium,

University of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Department of Systematic Botany, Uppsala University, Sweden 3.

Maydell von,H

(1990) Trees and Verlag, Weikersheim, Germany. }.

shrubs of the Sahel. Margraf

Found from sea level up to 1900 m in wooded grassland, on limestone slopes and on alluvial soils, in Acacia woodland, in and along dry river beds, on cultivated land and in gardens. It will grow where the annual rainfall is between 50 and 350 mm.

Uses The ripe fruits are edible and found in large quantities in local markets. The seeds inside the fruits are roasted to be eaten. The fleshy part can be dried and pulverised to be baked under the heat of the sun. The termite-resistant wood is widely used as firewood, or for charcoal making. It is also very

The flower of the

Ziziphus spina-christi

A Bees for Development publication

BEEKEEPING

LOOK AHEAD BELGIUM

XXXV International Apicultural Congress APIMONDIA 1-6 September 1997, Antwerp Further details from: APIMONDIA, General

Secretariat, Corso Vittorio Emanuele 101, 1-00186 Rome, Italy Fax: 39 6685 2286

BENIN Third West African Bee Research Seminar Scheduled for November 1995 Flavien C Soude, Secretary General, Benin Beekeepers’ Association, PO Box 1254, Cotonou, Benin For further details please contact:

CANADA Seventh International Pollination Symposium

3-4 November 1995, Elsburg Further details from: SAFBA, PO Box 41, Modderfontein 1645, South Africa

17-19 June 1996, Southampton University, Further details from: Dr Nazmul Haq, International

Centre for Under-utilised Crops, Department of Biology, University of Southampton, Bassett Crescent East, Southampton SO9 3TU, United Kingdom

USA ECHO’s Second Annual Agricultural Mission Conference 2

November 1995, N Fort Myers

Further details from: Agriculture and Agri-Food

Canada, Lethbridge Research Station, Lethbridge, Alberta, TI] 4B], Canada Fax: 403 382 3156

VIETNAM Third Asian Apicultural Association Conference

CUBA Meeting on pollination to be organised under the auspices of APIMONDIA

6-10 October 1996, Hanoi

6 Further details to be announced

~_~RMANY

Third Symposium on Apiculture 22-26 August 1996, Jena Further details from: Dr Ursula Horn, Friedrich Schiller Universitat, Am Steiger 3, D07743 Jena/Thiringen, Germany Fax: 36 41 635 382

GHANA Agri Africa 95 27 November -

December 1995, Accra

Further details from: Water Africa Ltd, 37 Upper Duke Street, Liverpool L1 9DY,

United Kingdom

INDIA Resource Inventory Techniques to Support Agroforestry Activities October 1995, Palampur Further details from: Dr Atul, Department of Agroforestry and Environment, HP Agriculture University, Palampur 176062, Kangra {HP), India

Further details from: Committee of the Third AAA Conference, Ms Nguyen Thu Hang, Bee Research and Development Centre, Lang ha, Dong da, Hanoi, Vietnam Fax: 84 435 2725

ZIMBABWE Forestry in a Changing Political Environment: Challenges for the 21st Century 12-17 May 1997, Victoria Falls Further details from: The Secretary General, The 15th

Commonwealth Forestry Conference, Forestry Commission, PO Box HG 139, Highlands, Harare, Zimbabwe

LEARN AHEAD SWAZILAND Management of Rural Development 31 October - 8 December 1995, Mananga Training of Trainers 6 November - 8 December 1995, Mananga Further details from: The Director, Mananga Management Centre, PO Box 20, Mhlume, Swaziland

Fax: 91 1894 2259

TANZANIA

“T2AEL

Training in Tropical Beekeeping

e Products: Properties, Applications and Apitherapy

Short courses in February, April and June 1996, Njiro Wildlife Research Centre, Tanzania Further details from: Njiro Wildlife Research Centre, PO Box 661, Arusha, Tanzania Fax: 255 57 8240 or

26-30 May 1996, Tel Aviv Further details from: Congress Secretariat, Dan Knassim Ltd, POB 1931, Ramat-Gan 52118 Israel

Fax: 972 3613 3341

ITALY XXth International Congress of Entomology 25-31 August 1996, Florence Further details from: The Organising Secretariat,

Via A la Moarmora 24, 50121, Florence, Italy Fax: 55 500 1912

KENYA Inventory of Non-Timber Forest Products 19-23 February 1996, Nairobi Further details from: Dr August B Temu, ICRAF, PO Box 30677, Nairobi, Kenya

LEBANON

Agritech 95 28 November - 2 December 1995, Beirut Further details from: International Fairs and

Promotions, City Exhibition Centre, PO Box 55576, Beirut, Lebanon

A Bees for Development publication

from Bees for Development

UNITED KINGDOM Beekeeping in Rural Development September - October 1996, University of Wales Cardiff, United Kingdom and Niiro Wildlife Research Centre, Tanzania Further details from: Glynis Hudson, Continuing Education Facilitator, University of Wales Cardiff, 51 Park Place, Cardiff CFl 3AT, United Kingdom Fax 44 (0)1222 874953 Women and Agricultural Development |

29 April - 4 July 1996 Further details from: John Best,

AERDD, The University of Reading, Earley Gate, PO Box 238, Reading RG6 6AL, United Kingdom Fax: 44 (0)1734 261244 you want notice of your event to appear here, send details to Bees for Development, Troy, Monmouth NP5 4AB, United Kingdom Fax: 44(0) 16007 16167

PRESTIGIOUS AWARD Professor John Free was honoured in the Queen's

UNITED KINGDOM Under-utilised Crops

30 October -

DEVELOPMENT

NOTICE BOARD

SOUTH AFRICA National Beekeeping Symposium

Further details from: ECHO, AMC ‘95, 17430 Durrance Road, N Fort Myers, FL 33917, USA

24-28 June 1996, Lethbridge

Honours List with the award of CMG.

Congratulations from Bees for Development on this achievement.

RESEARCH TRAINING PROGRAMME 26 undergraduate students will be selected to participate in an intensive 10-week training course

at the Smithsonian Institution.

For those interested in a career in systematic biology and natural history research.

Write to: Smithsonian Institution, 166 NHB, Washington DC 20277-2015, USA

INFORMATION CALL AGRECOL want information on agricultural methods and techniques which maintain, restore or even increase soil fertility, which have proved practical and suitable for small-scale enterprise. Send your contributions to:

AGRECOL, c/o Oekozentrum, 4438 Langenbruk, Switzerland

TRAVEL GRANTS The International Science Foundation provides support to scientists in the former Soviet Union and Baltic States. Further information from: Tamara

K Shakarjian, Program Associate, ISF, 1054 31st Street NW, Suite 110, Washington DC 20007, USA

OBITUARIES We are sorry to pass on news of the deaths of two people who did much for tropical beekeeping

Mr Jack Tredwell was the man behind the hive invention that is well-known in Africa and across the world - the Kenya top-bar hive.

Dr Roger Darchen was involved with Volontaires du Progrés, an organisation concerned with projects in developing countries. He established the School of

Tropical Apiculture in Eyzies, France.

ELEVEN

BEEKEEPING

DEVELOPMENT

Bees and beekeeping: science, practice and world resources by Eva Crane (1990) 614 pages Hardback

NOW AT A NEW LOW

PRICE - 54.50 EXCELLENT VALUE!

Nectar and pollen plants of China by Xu Wanlin (1993) 533 pages Hardback

NOW BACK IN STOCK 45.00

Apiculture in China by

Chen YaoChun (1993) 180 pages Hardback

NOW BACK IN STOCK 28.00

COMPARE OUR PRICES!! OUR PRICES INCLUDE POSTAGE

Swarming: its control and prevention by L E Snelgrove Bee Books New and Old, Bridgwater,

United Kingdom (1995) 110 pages. Paperback

First published in 1934, the 14th edition of this

classic is

now available from Bees for Development (see Books to Buy) price 6.50.

The book relates to frame hive

beekeeping techniques.

The bee book: beekeeping in the warmer areas of Australia by Peter Warhurst and

Roger Goebel

from

Bees for Development

(see

Books

Buy)

price 52.00

This book describes how to practise beekeeping in parts of Australia with subtropical and tropical climates. There is minimal need for over-wintering practices and plenty of bee forage available. The major problems concern the rapid deterioration of equipment in hot climates, and the harvesting of honey with high moisture content. This is a well-produced text concisely relating much information and with plenty of illustrations. The beekeeping described is mainly largescale and highly mechanised, and there are clear descriptions of the processes involved. Included in the chapter “Exotic diseases and pests” there is discussion of the possibility of African and Asian honeybees entering Australia. There is also a short chapter on Australian native bees.

Ecolabelling and international trade by Venna Jha, René Vossenaar,

Simonetta Zarrilli

UNCTAD, Geneva, Switzerland (1993) 45 pages. Available from: UNCTAD Editorial Board, Palais des Nations, CH-1211, Geneva 10, Switzerland

Environmental labelling, or ecolabelling means the use of labels to inform consumers that a labelled product is more environmentally friendly than other products of the same category. Such labels are granted by a government or a private agency, and are seen as a market-orientated statement of environmental policy. The labels should reflect the ecological impact of a product during its life, from production, through distribution, use or consumption, to disposal.

This discussion paper gives information which is generally applicable: it does not mention honey or bee products specifically.

Apicultura practica en América Latina by Luis Guillermo Cornejo FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin 105, Rome, Italy (1993) 167 pages. Paperback. In Spanish. Available from Bees for Development (see Books to Buy) price 15.00

TWELVE

Department of Primary Industries, Queensland, Australia (1995) 244 pages. Paperback. Available

This is a standard text describing current beekeeping in South America. It begins with a description of the anatomy and biology of the honeybee and proceeds to describe beekeeping equipment and practises. Details of queen rearing and instrumental insemination are given. Harvesting of hone wax, royal jelly, pollen and propolis are described. This A4-size paperback has 167 pages and the text is illustrated by 246 black and white diagrams and photographs: unfortunately the quality of some pictures is poor.

Control de calidad de la miel y la cera by E M Bianchi FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin 68/3, Rome, Italy (1990) 69 pages. Paperback. In Spanish. Available from Bees for Development (see Books to Buy) price 5.50

This paperback gives useful details of how to carry out the laboratory procedures to assess honey and beeswax quality. An English language version is in preparation.

The cultural dimension of development: indigenous knowledge systems Michael Warren, L Jan Slikkerveer and David Brokensha by D

Intermediate Technology Publications Ltd, London, United Kingdom (1995) 582 pages. Paperback.

Available from fo

Bees for Development

(see

Books

Buy) price 19.95

Recognising indigenous knowledge is not just case of accepting that poor people have skills, but of recognising that people have the skill to innovate, to find solutions to changing situations. This paperback of almost 600 pages is a presentation of evidence. It gives carefully researched information from many countries, demonstrating the value and usefulness of indigenous knowledge. It does not argue that poor and rural people always know best: there a

Bees for Development pubncation

)

BEEKEEPING

Videos

Buy

Rafter beekeeping in Vietnam Phung Hun Chinh, Nguuen Quang Tan and Pham Hong Thai by

Bee Research & Development Centre, Hanoi, Vietnam

(1995) VHS Running time 30 minutes. Available Bees for Development price 24.85

from

including postage and packing Bh,

are spheres in which modern scientific knowledge is advantageous. Yet, this advantage has been assumed to be almost universal. This book shows that in many fields, indigenous knowledge is far more relevant, valid and useful than had been supposed.

book has 47 chapters describing studies in ditterent countries (non relate specifically to beekeeping). Very good value!

Insect conservation biology by Michael |]Samways Chapman & Hall, London, United Kingdom (1995) 385 pages Paperback. Available from Bees for

Development

(see

Books

Buy) price 20.00

Insect Conservation Biology is an academic text covering a wide range of topics from single species to landscape conservation, from rare butterflies to the benefits and risk of biocontrol.

The book sets out all the arguments in a logical way. It begins by setting the scene: insects are disappearing at the rate of thousands of species each year. It then goes ) give the scientific basis for saving as y insect populations, species and habitats as possible. Finally, advice is given on restoration ecology - to stop the loss of insect

species.

B&D professes to bring you the best views on beekeeping and this gold medal winner from Apimondia 1995 certainly does just that!

Clear camera work and a carefully-prepared and narrated script provide an interesting and informative explanation of the Melaleuca swamp, and the rafter beekeeping famous in the area. We are introduced to the Mekong Delta region, which has been greatly affected by war and deforestation. The economic aspects of the honey and white wax collected from Apis dorsata are

explained.

Next is a section on the Apis dorsata colony and how it functions. Finally a description of why raftering developed, how the rafters are constructed, and the research underway to

improve techniques. Produced with funding from KWT Netherlands and BEENET Asia, the Technical Advisor is

beekeeping expert Vincent Mulder.

African honeybees - how to handle them in top-bar hives Produced with financial and logistic support from the

German Development Service, Lusaka, Zambia. Script by Bernhard Clauss. Camera, editing, narration by Reinald Doebel (1995) VHS-PAL Running time 22 minutes. Available from Bees for Development price 19.65 including postage and

packing

An informative introduction to managing African bees in top-bar hives.

DEVELOPMENT

BOOKS TO BUY BOOKS TO BUY is a list of books available for you to purchase from Bees for Development. Use the form in Books to Buy to order books or simply write to us listing your requirements. Your order will be processed as soon as it arrives at Bees for Development. We will be happy to offer advice if you are not sure which to choose. Please send payment with your order. Our prices include packing and post to any address by surface mail world-wide. To have your order sent by airmail, please add 25% to the total order cost. We will issue invoices if required, but we will not dispatch books until payment is received.

ORDER FAST BY FAX: 44(0) 16007 16167

OR BY E-MAIL: 100410.2631 @CompuServe.COM

OR BY POST: Nina Gibson, Publications Sales Manager, Bees for Development, Troy, Monmouth, NP5 4AB, United Kingdom

And remember

ALL income Bees for Development earns from book sales is used to provide information to beekeepers in developing countries. We are a small organisation and our overheads are kept very low.

The film explains that, as in all beekeeping, what is needed most of all is patience and gentle behaviour - from the beekeeper! Another vital ingredient is plenty of cool smoke. There are excellent tips on how this should be used to the best advantage. We are shown that top-bar hives can be produced using local materials - providing care is taken to guard against local pests. Also how to collect a swarm and introduce it to your top-bar hive.

This is a very good training film - it easily holds attention for its short running time, but messages are clearly put across. A Bees for Development publication

THIRTEEN

BEEKEEPING

DEVELOPMENT

ZOOMING IN

VENEZUELA Caribbean Sea B

Size

916,445 km?

Population GNP

20 million

The swarming season is from January to April. Seasons are well defined: dry (January-April), rainy (May-September) and transient (October-December). The best honey yields are during the dry season. There are three honey harvests a year at UNELLEZ: December (dark honey); January (amber honey) and March (almost white honey).

USS700 per capita

CARACAS

Location

Orinoco

COLOMBIA

GUYANA

VENEZUELA

Most northerly country of South America. Bolivar (170 Bs = USS1) Currency

Problems

Main agriculture

Acquisition of good quality equipment and queens is difficult, as is credit for the purchase of beekeeping material. Number of beekeepers

Cocoa, coffee, tropical fruits.

Exports Venezuela's principal income is from oil

BRAZIL

exports.

Precise number unknown, but increasing!

Honeybees

We would like

Africanized honeybees Apis mellifera scutellata are dominant. Few beekeepers work with pure European honeybees. The Africanized honeybee is more defensive, adapts better to extreme conditions of drought or flood, is more resistant to varroa and acarine, and is a good pollinator. It is possible to obtain up to 180 kg of honey per colony in three harvests.

thank Rafael

Thimann for providing information towards this article. He is

Beekeeping

Head of the

Nacional Experimental de los Llanos Occidentales Ezequiel Zamora (UNELLEZ)

All beekeepers use original or modified Langstroth frame hives. Traditional stingless bee hives are made from scraps of wood or from “totumas”, a local hard-skinned spherical fruit Crescentia cujete. Apiaries are located beneath the canopy of big trees: Samanea

where he manages 40 colonies of honeybees.

saman, Cassia moschata, Pterocarpus acapulsensis.

Beekeeping

Production

R&D

Unit at the Universidad

PLANTS Latin name

]

Anacardium excelsum

chaparro mijao

Hyptis suaveolens

mastranto

Pterocarpus acapulsensis Casearia hirsuta

sangredrago fruta de paloma

X X X X

Gliricidia sepium

mata de ratén

Protium quianensis Curatella americana

X X

Local name mamoncillo tacamahaca

Licania apetala

-X xX

X xX

XxX

Honey production 1994: 864,000 kg (unofficially). Yields: 20-60 kg per hive per harvest. Honey is sold locally at Bs700 (US$4.1) per

kilogram.

Honeybee diseases, pests and predators Acarapis woodi, Braula coeca, sacbrood, Varroa

Also birds and humans honey thieves are very active.

jacobsoni, wax moth.

Research. The Beekeeping Production Unit at UNELLEZ is carrying out research on: api/botanical flora, behaviour of Africanized queens (reproduction and production), physical and chemical properties of honey, and pest control in rabbits using propolis.

Training. UNELLEZ trains students from farms and

FLOWERING PERIOD

Melliferous vegetation

ON...

X XxX

schools. Each year Rafael Thimann runs a short course for the University Fire Department on how to capture swarms anc avoid multiple stings. A 40 hour course on Beekeeping Economics for small groups of farmers is being planned this year.

Projects Government agencies give credit to start small businesses.

Platymiscium diadelphum roble Tabebuia chrysantha araguaney

FUNDACITE-ORIENTE provide training and

long-term credit to new beekeepers.

Tabebuia rocea

Petrea glandulosa

Vitex orinocensis Lonchocarpus pictus Mimosa pudica

Muntingia calabura Albizia lebbeck Albizia guachapele Pollalesta condensata

apamate penitente aceituno jebe

dormidera niguito saman montafioso urero macho

Oyedae verbesinoides Cupania americana

negrito chupa-chupa tara amarilla rabo de pava

Vernonia brasiliana

estoraque

Davilia nitida

chaparrillo

Combretum fruticosum

FOURTEEN

X X

The Ministry of Agriculture is organising beekeeping programmes for the Indians living in Bolivar State, and Mr Thimann has visited the Yanomami Indians in the Amazon Basin to teach beekeeping techniques.

xX XxX

X X X

X X

X X X

X X

Beekeeping museum Museo Nacional de Apicultura Ignacio Herrera

Journal

XxX

X X X

X X

X xX

Revista del Munapih, Ec Elda Bricefio de Barrios, Coordinacién Técnica Mérida, Corporacién de Los Andes, Apdo 94, Mérida, Venezeula A Bees for Development publication

REMEMBER TO MENTION

Beekeeping & Development WHEN

WANTED!

Bees for Development

INTERESTING BEEKEEPING OR BEE DEVELOPMENT WORK IN A DEVELOPING COUNTRY

We run an active beekeeping network linking people interested in bees and sustainable beekeeping everywhere.

LONG- OR SHORT-TERM WORK

CONSIDERED

for publication in our journal Beekeeping & Development - the journal for sustainable beekeeping.

My qualifications are: Diploma in Apiculture from University of

SUBSCRIPTIONS TO B&D. The subscription rate for 12 months (four editions) is 16 by airmail to any address. Back issues are available

Wales Cardiff, previous beekeeping experience in Africa and Asia, and honey

each. Readers in developing countries may pay by Beeswax Barter or Candle Currency.

at 5.00

farming.

Please contact me:

Bees for Development Journal Edition 36 - September 1995

Articles inside

Zooming in on Venezuela

Bookshelf

Notice board

What's on

Trees bees use - Ziphus spina-christi - Christ’s thorn

Raftering - A traditional technique for honey and wax production from Apis dorsata in Vietnam

News

Letter

Don’t fiddle with the Top-bar hive!

Apimondia - Welcome to Switzerland