Bees for Development Journal Edition 38 - March 1996

OFFICE COPY

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NUMBER 38

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BEERKEEPING & DEVELOPMENT 38

INSIDE INFORMATION World Vision Award for Development Initiative 1990

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the post

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for Development

is always a

great job. Every day brings the interest of letters from beekeepers working in remote places, as well as those near to

home. From our new readers, from our frequent correspondents, and always, always more

enquiries about bees and how to get started in beekeeping.

Sometimes it is a picture which stimulates enquirers. For example, the cover picture on the last edition, showing a nice honeycomb from a top-bar hive, seemed to catch the eye of many, who have written for more information on beekeeping.

Apimondia Gold 1989, Bronze 1993

People living in the poorest countries cannot pay us for the information they need.

Our policy

is to

help if we can: often this simply involves sending past editions of this journal.

poe

Bees for Development's

main source of income is subscriptions from this journal. Depending

on how you look at it, we are in the happy, or unhappy, situation of having

far more readers

than we have subscribers!

continue with this work - making beekeeping better know to people who need it most. Please help us to increase our number of subscriptions: consider sponsoring one or more extra subscriptions, or encourage your friends to broaden their horizons

We need more subscribers

to be able to

by signing up. There is always a subscription form printed in our book list, Books to Buy.

ISSUE

IN THIS

NETWORK Beekeeping & Development,

Inside Information News from Njifo......ccccccccceeeees

Practical Beekeeping

4

..

News Around the World...

.

AAA...

Zooming in on Eritrea Trees Bees

US€........0..ccccceeee

Beekeeping in Namibia

Letters to

B&D

8

1 12 12

Look & Learn Ahead.

13

Notice Board

13

Beeswax Barter

13

.

a

Bookshelf.

+14

the journal, is published by Bees fer Development, the organisation,

We run an active beekeeping network linking people interested in bees and sustainable beekeeping everywhere. Contact us if you have information to share, or need information. We welcome your contributions for publication in this journal.

EDITORIAL OFFICE Editor: Dr Nicola Bradbear

Co-ordinator: Helen Jackson

SUBSCRIPTION DEPARTMENT The subscription rate for 12 months (four editions) is 16 by airmail to any address.

Past editions are available at 5 each. Readers in developing countries may pay by Beeswax Barter or Candle Currency (see page 13).

PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION B&D is published four times every year in March, June, September and December.

4000 copies of each edition are printed and

distributed world-wide.

PUBLISHERS COVER PICTURE Our cover picture

shows The Reverend

Francis Capener, Honorary Secretary of the United Kingdom National Honey Show describing candle judging to Stedson Stroud from St Helena.

MARY FISHER

TWO

Bees for Development, Troy, Monmouth, NP5 4AB, United Kingdom Telephone: (+44) 016007 13648 Fax: (+44) 016007 16167 E-Mail: 100410.2631 @CompuServe.COM

:

AyWl Irradheay ADVERTISEMENTS Advertisements and enclosures in B&D reach readers in many countries. The advertisement rates are: Quarter page 50: Half page 90: Full page 160. Enclosures 40 per kilogram.

These prices are subject to VAT in the EC.

REPRODUCTION Information in B&D

is intended to help beekeepers everywhere. We are happy for items to be reproduced or translated. Please give acknowledgement to B&D and the author of the item you are using, and send a copy of the reproduced or translated item. |

ASIAN APICULTURAL ASSOCIATION

B&D

is the official newsletter of the Asian Apicultural Association. Information on AAA is given on page 7.

SPONSORS The journal has been sponsored in part by CTA, The Netherlands.

We are grateful to our sponsors including beekeeping groups and individuals who support

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Bees for Development.

We need more sponsors urgently.

Please contact us direct if you can help.

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BEEREEPING & DEVELOPMENT 38

NEWS FROM NJIRO Sustainable Beekeeping for Africa .

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NJIRO WILDLIFE RESEARCH CENTRE is a ~-~y special institute devoted to the study of ‘ican bees and beekeeping. It is situated near Arusha, Tanzania in East Africa.

good team for fruitful work The Centre has four academic graduates and two more will complete University studies within the project

For several years now, Njifo’s main work has been a research project investigating ways of effective African beekeeping

The Director at Nyiro is Mr Liana Hassan The Research Co-ordinator is Mr B6rje Svensson, whose work is supported by SVS (Swedish Volunteer Service)

The project is developing simple, low-cost methods They must be environmentally sound The project’s objectives are @

To gain knowledge of equipment and methods that are appropriate for rural Africa

@

To achieve excellent communication with people who want the information Programmes involve workshops and training courses Findings will also be made available through B&D

Nyro Wildlife Research Centre has three aplaries with 140 honeybee colonies, all in service for research The staff of 22 people plus another 12 service staff employed by the Serengeti Wildlife Research Institute make a A

Bees for Development publication

The team at Nyira Wildlife Research Centre

period

The research project is funded by ODA (the United Kingdom Overseas Development Administration) Because research of this nature inevitably needs a Jong time, ODA have recently agreed to support the project fora further three years Phase II of the project commenced in October 1995, and 1s managed

by Bees for Development.

Now that several years of work have been completed, Njiro 1s beginning to have tried and tested information to share with others In the article overleaf, Mr Stephen Liseki, one of the research team at Njiro, describes a good way to feed sugar syrup to bees kept in top-bar

hives THREE

BEEKEEPING

&

DEVELOPMENT 38

SUGAR FEEDING USING A TOP-BAR FEEDER

RACTICAL EKEEPING

by

Figure 1.

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Four easy steps for construction of frame feeders for top-bar hives.

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48.5 cm

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32

Stephen D Liseki

mm

A top-bar with a frame before pieces of hardboard are

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20cm

fixed to the sides

35cm

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Hardboard (first piece) Itis perforated

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INTRODUCTION Beekeepers often feed sugar to bees before or during dearth periods. In temperate regions, the dearth period is winter, when temperatures fall to 0°C or below. However, in the tropics dearth periods occur either during dry periods or prolonged rainy periods.

The dearth period is a time of lower activity, when few or no bee plants are in flower.

During this time tropical bee colonies might migrate or abscond from the hive in search of sites with better conditions for survival. That means a big loss of colonies might occur. One way to stop this is to feed the bees with sugar syrup. Sugar is used as the best substitute material for nectar although some other feeds with high sugar contents can also be used.

These include date fruits, sweet bananas and sugar cane juice.

In temperate regions there are various techniques for feeding sugar to bees.

Hardboard

C

Sugar

(second piece)

The choice of feeder depends upon the type of hive used. Use of a frame feeder, or placing a

filling

hole covered

with wire

mesh

The purpose of our project has been to develop a feeding technique appropriate for the kind of top-bar hives and bees used in Tanzania.

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cup of sugar in an empty super on top of a hive, are not always appropriate ways to fee: bees in the tropics.

_f A complete top-bar Two pieces of | frame feeder hardboard

A good feeder: @

Allows bees to feed easily without drowning in the syrup

@

Is durable and can be reused many

@

Does not allow robber bees to enter

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filled with without quickly syrup disturbing the bees or getting stung.

fixed to the

frame

Figure 2.

Placing the feeder inside the top-bar hive ready for filling with sugar syrup.

Top-bars

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Top-bar frame feeder inserted completely into the hive

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Is easy to work with and can be

MAKING AND USING THE FEEDER The feeder is built from a standard top-bar.

Timber, hardboard and nails are all that are needed (see Figure 1).

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7

times

Entrances

The Tanzanian top-bar frame feeder is sloped at 10° in order to fit both types of top-bar hives we are using (0° and 10° sloped hives).

A Bees fer Development publication

BEEKEEPING & DEVELOPMENT 38

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The Research Team at Njiro has found that a :1 sugar to water syrup should no longer be recommended because this ferments rapidly under tropical conditions. |

Filling

the frame feeder with

The perforated feeding holes, though bigger than the size of the bees, were chewed by the bees to increase the hole size.

@

After two weeks of feeding, bees sealed the wire mesh in ten feeders with propolis. In order to continue with sugar feeding we had to break and remove the wire mesh.

We found the robber bee problem could be avoided by replacing the cover of the hive immediately after filling the feeder.

Another alternative is to plug the hole with a cork after filling.

@

The time used to fill one hive was so short that no bees were coming out to sting, and also bees could not fly out because the feeder size is just right to fit inside the hive, leaving no gap for bees. The advantage is that you can feed the bees without wearing beekeeping clothing.

@

Colony development after feeding was very good and as a result we had an early (minor) harvest for the first time in our apiary.

@

Absconding was reduced: only one colony absconded and this was due to queen failure followed by pest attack.

sugar syrup

A piece of wire mesh covers the filler hole to prevent robber bees getting into the feeder.

The holes should be placed as high as possible in order to increase the carrying capacity of the feeder. Melted beeswax (or paraffin wax) is poured inside the feeder to close all the gaps through which syrup might leak out.

The feeder should be placed at the rear end of the top-bar hive in order to make feeding easy (Figure 2) The feeder holds one litre of syrup.

OBSERVATIONS @

@

Syrup in the feeders was all consumed by bees within two days, in all 30 hives in the experiment. No bees drowned in the syrup.

The syrup was made in a ratio of 2: (sugar to water, by volume). Feeding was carried out twice a week; each colony getting 0 5 litres of syrup each time, over three or four weeks.

1

CONCLUSION These feeders have proved to be very successful and can be used with any type of top-bar hive (based on the measurements of the hive itself) Notice that no bees

are coming out

PHOTOGRAPHS BORIE SVENSSON

A Bees for Development public

alin

FIVE

BEEKEEPING

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DEVELOPMENT 88

WORLD SEED PROGRAMME 1996 The New Forest Project provides packets of tree seeds, technical information and training materials free of charge to groups world-wide interested in starting reforestation projects with fast-growing, nitrogen fixing trees. Available for immediate distribution are high quality seeds of Cajanus cajan

(pigeon pea), Leucaena

(ipil-ipil), Gliricidia

lecocephala

(madre de cacao), Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust) and Prosopis sepim

juliflora (mesquite).

For more information or to receive the reforestation packet, write to:

The New Forests Project, 731 Eighth Street SE, Washington DC 2003, USA Fax: (202) 546 4784 Please include an environmental

description of your area, including

elevation, average annual rainfall, length of rainy and dry seasons, high and low temperatures, soil

NEWS AROUND GHANA

plant extracts to subdue African honeybees.

The workshop was attended by four research scientists from the University of Science and Technology, Kumasi and ten members of the Ghana Beekeepers’ Association.

Dr Yeboah-Gyan, leader of the research team, outlined components of the participatory approach. Discussions centred around the use of extracts from the local climbing plant

“Bekyem”, Adenia cissampeloides for subduing honeybees. Traditional beekeepers in the Central Region use volatile substances from the vines of the woody climber in subduing bees during honey harvest (for references see: B&D 8, March 1986; B&D 11, November 1987).

At the end of the discussions the Committee agreed: @

characteristics, and the purpose of the tree

planting (fuelwood, lumber,

forage, soil conservation, soil

enhancement).

@

Extraction methods for volatile substances should be simple and appropriate to local beekeepers;

Application methods should be simple enough to be easily adopted by beekeepers.

Kwame Aidoo,

APICULTURE SANS FRONTIERES is a non-profit making association promoting beekeeping in developing countries. ASF also undertakes

the supervision of projects.

This summer ASF is organising courses on

KENYA Beekeeping at Egerton University Apiculture is taught within the Department of Animal Science to students on the BSc in Animal Production Programme. The Course comprises 30 lecture hours and 15 practical hours. Other students within the Faculty of Agriculture take apiculture as one of the subjects on the “Non-Ruminant Production Course”.

from 1-20 July 1996 at the

Stephen Kagio, Lecturer in Apiculture

For more information write

to

Apiculture sans Frontiéres, c/o Dr Bierna Michel, Rue Franche 24 7020 Nimy, Belgium Tel: 32 65 31 74 94 Fax: 32 65 36 11 06

NEPAL Min Bahadur Rana is a resourceful man. After experimenting with keeping bees using traditional hives he found he could not get the honey out of the hive without destroying the comb. Only a very small honey harvest was possible which did not give income.

the Burtibang Community Health Programme (BCHP) announced a beekeeping training course. Min was first to enrol. He In 1993

learnt many aspects of beekeeping and visited a nearby farmer with several successful hives.

At the end of the course he invested his

meagre savings in a frame hive offered at a subsidised rate. Within a year his honey yield rose to 10 kg and he was able to produce better quality honey. After the initial set up costs the hives cost nothing to run. Min’s major problem was honey extraction. The equipment was only available in Kathmandu.

But BCHP came to his aid with the free loan of an extractor. Min has now learnt to make his own hives using local soft wood. He is the employer of two neighbouring farmers to keep up with village demand and is the BCHP’s

honey supplier.

Min buys his veils from a local tailor and his next project is to develop his own locally made extractor.

Source:

Correspondent in Ghana

All students in the Faculty undergo about 14 hours of general beekeeping practice during their introduction to farming procedures.

Courses are in French

SIX

B&D's

General, Tropical and Subtropical Beekeeping Beekeeping Centre, Mons, Belgium

D

Participatory research to control African honeybees - scientists and beekeepers meet A one-day research workshop was organised in Kumasi to examine the possibilities of using

Today Nepal, August 1995

UNITED KINGDOM The (inter)National Honey Show For a long time overseas beekeepers have been visiting and showing their products at the best honey show in the world, held at tk end of November. Beekeepers from Trinidad and Tobago exhibit regularly. Someone with business acumen persuaded the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to sponsor transport of honey to the United Kingdom, with the result that they have won prizes, including the prestigious and toughest class of 24 jars of any kind of honey. This class is Open to the World; honey needs to be very good to win!

Irish beekeepers have also taken First Prizes at the Show, setting up a great friendly rivalry between them and English beekeepers.

It is great advantage for a country to have a presence at the National: promotion of tourism and conferences is one valuable spin off. For individuals who go, the best experience is meeting other beekeepers, exchanging ideas, learning from the lectures and seeing the vast range of top grade exhibits. There is usually a stand with demonstrations of do-it-yourself, a

A Bees for Development publication

BEE KEEPING

&

DEVELOPMENT 38

ASIAN APICULTURAL ASSOCIATION

a 7

THE WORLD

low-technology gadgets, which show the possibility of using cheap, alternative

The Asian Apicultural Association (AAA) assists communication and the exchange of information between bee scientists and beekeepers in Asia. The administrative headquarters of AAA are in Japan, and communication between countries is also assisted by AAA Representatives (Chapters) throughout Asia.

The AAA Membership fee is $20 per year. If you live in one of the countries listed below you can join AAA by contacting your local representative or send $20 directly to the AAA Office, c/o Honeybee Science Research Center, Tamagawa University, Machida-Shi, Tokyo 194, Japan. Fax: 81 427 39 8854

AUSTRALIA

In 1995

their excellent magazine. Village Aid volunteers also enjoyed the opportunity to publicise their activities in developing countries. A continuous demonstration of the Internet showed the value of this tool for instant exchange of information world-wide, while videos showed various aspects of practical beekeeping.

Consider how your beekeeping group could benefit from visiting or exhibiting at the National Honey Show, either from education, exhibiting, trading or simply enjoying the friendship of other beekeepers. It is a lot of fun for you and extends the experience of British beekeepers to share world-wide methods of beekeeping and uses of bee »ducts You will be very welcome.

wut

Fisher

BRUNEI DARRUSSALAM CHINA

INDIA

Dr Alamgir Mati, Bangladesh Apicultural Association, 30/1 Shantinagar, Dhaka 1217

Bangladesh Institute of Apiculture, 23/12 Khilji Road, Shyamoli, Mohammadpur, Dhaka 1207 Dr Kassim Hajidaud, Dept of Biology, Universiti Brunei Darrussalam, Gadong 3186 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 Central Bee Research Institute, Khadi & Village Industries Commission, 1153 Ganeshkhind Road, Pune 411 016 Dr Vinod K Mattu, Dept of Bio-Sciences,

Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla

171 005

Dr CC Reddy, Dept of Zoology, Bangalore University, Jnaha Bharati, Bangalore 560 056

INDONESIA

Dr M Chandra Widjaja, National Beekeeping Center, Perum Perhutani, Jl Gatot Subroto-Senayan, PO Box 19/KT WB, Jakarta 10270

KOREA

Dr Kun-Suk Woo, Institute of Korea Beekeeping Science, College of Agriculture and Life Science, Seoul National University, Suwon 440 744 Mr Hae-Woon Chung, Korea Beekeeping Association, 301 Sambo Bldg, Chonglo 6-Ga, Chonglo-Ku, Seoul, 110 126

Mr Woo-Suk Ahn, Cheju Branch, Korean Beekeeping Association, Sambo, 2-dong 1024, Cheju, 690 032

MALAYSIA

Dr M Hj Muid, Plant Protection Dept, Agricultural University of Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor

NEPAL

Dr Dikpal K Baidya, Kathmandu University, Dhulikhel, Kavre, PO Box 6250, Kathmandu

NEW ZEALAND

Mr Cliff van Eaton, National Apiculture Business Unit, MAF Quality Management, Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries, Private Bag, Tauranga

SULTANATE OF OMAN PAKISTAN

Mr Keith E Ferguson, PO Box 2037,

PHILIPPINES

Dr Cleofas R Cervancia, Deptartment of Entomology, College of Agriculture, UP Los Banos, College, Laguna

SAUDI ARABIA

Mr Jassim M Al Mughrabi, PO Box 42332, Riyadh 11541, Ministry of Agriculture & Water, Training Department, Riyadh

SRI LANKA

Dr R W K Punchihewa, Honeybee Research Facility, Horticulture Station, Ministry of Agriculture, Kananwila, Horana

TAIWAN (China)

Dr Chun-yen Lin Taiwan Apicultural & Sericultural Experiment Station, 261 Kuan-nan, Kung-Kuan, Miaoli Mr Somnuk Boongird, Bee Research Section, Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture, Bangkhen, Bangkok

THAILAND

‘\ Bees far Development publi ator

Mr Linton Briggs, The Federal Council of Australian Apiarists’ Association, RMB 1030, Glen Rowan,

Victoria 3675

BANGLADESH

resources.

trade stands showed a better range of books and appliances (including candlemaking) than can be found at any other Show. es for Development has a splendid, eyecatching stand which attracts customers for their books, clothing and subscriptions to

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SEEB

III

Dr Nasreen Muzaffar, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, NARC, PO NIH, Islamabad

TURKEY

Dr Osman Kaftanoglu, Department of Animal Science, Cukurova University, Adana 01330

VIETNAM

Mr Din Quyet Tam, Director, VINAPI, Phuong mai, Dongda,

Hanoi

SEVEN

BEEKEEPING

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DEVELOPMENT 38

Name

State of Eritrea

Honeybees

Size

123,300 km?

Apis mellifera

3.5 million: 2.7 million living in Population Eritrea, the rest are refugees.

Location Located along the Red Sea, Eritrea is in north-east Africa and includes some 112 islands in the Red Sea. It borders with Sudan on the West and North, Ethiopia on the South and Djibouti on the south-east.

Walls of the houses of Tignigna people are built with holes to form entrances for bee hives fitted inside the house. This typical house has a bee hive entrance to the top left of the front door.

After 30 years of armed struggle for the right of self-determination the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF) defeated the Fthianian military farerec and actahliched a

provisional government. In April 1993, the Eritrean voters chose independence in an internationally monitored referendum.

Geography Eritrea is classified as arid and semi-arid with four ecological zones: lowland 0-600 m, mid lowland 600-1600 m, mid highland 1600-2400 m, and highland 2400-2800 m above sea level.

Main crops Cotton, maize, millet, sesame and sorghum.

Basic indicators Urban

:

rural ratio

80

:

20

% population under 15

A Tigrigna

beekeeper. Above her ts one of the huge cylindrical bee hives, inside the house

years

50%

yemenitica, the

drought-resistant lowland bee inhabits the western, northwestern and eastern lowlands.

Apis mellifera scutellata, the

typical East African bee OCCUTS a

altitudes between 400 and 2700 m above sea level. The beekeepers find this bee highly defensive and

colonies abscond readily especially in the lowlands.

In

addition

stingless bees (Trigona spp) are exploited.

Bee colonies are sold in the

Average life expectancy

46 years

GDP per capita

75-150USS

Infant Mortality Rate Adult Literacy Rate Population per doctor

20%

Beekeeping history

48,000

Agro-pastoralists

70%

Workers and traders

20%

Pastoralists

9%

Honeybees have been kept by Eritreans for more than 3000 years. During the Axumite period, 3000 BC to 640 AD, honey was traded through the ancient port of Adulis.

Fishermen

1%

135 per 1000 births

capital and in rural markets, mostly during the months of May and September.

The number of honeybee colonies was drastically reduced during the 30 years of war against Ethiopia It is estimated that more than 60% of the bee population was destroyed.

Populations of honeybees are also decreasing because of the great loss of natural resources.

In addition honeybees are also killed by agro-chemicals - especially the insecticides used against locusts.

Number of beekeepers Here a beekeeper is adding a second cylindrical hive to an existing smaller one inside the wall. This is added during

flowering periods to give the bees the necessary space to store extra honey. The beekeeper can then harvest the best quality honey from combs newly built in the addedon hive. This technique is like adding supers in frame hive beekeeping.

EIGHT

There are very many beekeepers, most with less than five colonies. Many have a single colony only - but huge traditional commercial bee farms are also found. Bee husbandry is widespread throughout the Eritrean highlands and honey hunting is still found in the lowlands - practised by pastoralists.

A Bees for Development publication

|

BEEKEEPING & DEVELOPMENT 38 Day time harvesting of a hive in

Erirea

Melliferous vegetation

areas it is rather an everyday food.

The main

Beeswax

flowering period

Trade in beeswax hardly exists anymore in Eritrea. Of course in rural areas very smal] amounts of wax are traded within the villages and by individual beekeepers. Within the Saho

is from

September to November.

Species of Acacia, Albizia, Citrus, Combretum,

Cordia, Croton,

Eucalyptus, Euclea,

and Euphorbium are widespread and important for beekeeping.

In addition many herbs of the plant families

Acanthaceae, Asteraceae, Lamiaceae and

Paplionoideae are important.

Honey The most expensive Eritrean honey is white in colour with a mild granulation. The nectar sources of this honey are shrubs and herbs Lamiaceae, of the plant family particularly the Becium shrub aromatic grandiflorum, herbs and chrubs of the plant family Acanthaceae, and ‘naturalised shrub or tree Opuntia ficus indica, which nowadays covers most of the dry mountain slopes of the country.

Brown honey usually called ‘red honey’, is considered to be a valuable medicine and therefore mostly used at home. The main nectar source for this honey is Acacia etbaica.

Tigray honey is yellow white in colour. It seems that this honey is mainly from herbs of the Lamiaceae family as well as from the cactus, Opuntia.

Honey marketing Honey price varies between the equivalent of 2USS$ and 5USS per kilogram. It is well marketed in all urban and rural centres and market places. It is always sold as crude honey - not strained, and containing particles of wax and other impurities: these are regarded as proof that honey is genuine.

Honey is considered to be a health food, mostly for strengthening the body.

A Bees for Development publication

In rural

beekeeping community honey drinks are prepared, called ‘Birrsi’. The wax, as a waste product is sold to Christian Tigrigna people for candle production. Some wax is also collected from honey beer breweries as a waste

Asmara

e

ETHIOPIA

AFRICA Area of detail

product of brewing crude honey for beer

called ‘Mess’.

There is a small candle factory in Asmara, producing traditional tapers and candles for the Orthodox church.

These traditional candles are no longer made from beeswax, but from chemical substances, imported from Germany and having a very unpleasant smell. Only during holidays and religious festivals some beeswax is added. Another candle factory is producing ‘modern’ table candles using old German machinery. The paraffin for the candle making is a waste product of petrol refining and imported from China. The owner of the factory is complaining that the sale of candles is declining due to increasing access to electricity in rural areas.

Beekeeping Most honeybee colonies are kept inside the houses using traditional hives. Women are often beekeepers and almost always assist their husbands in keeping bees. Most traditional equipment is made by women.

Beekeepers do not need to invest capital and need very little equipment for their job. A small knife and home-made, traditional bee hives are enough. Almost all methods are based on the concept of minimal management and a bee colony does not require more than an hour of work per year

Eritrea beekeeping is one of the oldest agricultural activities. It has been developed and improved from generation to generation In

-

>

Honey is an important part of life in Eritrea.

Fresh comb honey is highly esteemed at social gatherings. The Saho culture regards comb honey as the most important present for visiting friends and relatives.

NINE

BEEKEEPING

&

DEVELOPMENT 38

up to present times. Within ethnic groups many different management methods have developed according to the cultural and economic background of the people.

Beekeeping techniques are not only confined to the different ethnic groups, they also vary between regions. The high standards of bee husbandry found within all ethnic groups represent the close relations of the beekeeping community and the exchanges of ideas and experiences within this group.

Traditional beekeeping, despite its antiquated appearance, is very efficient.

Cost calculations show that the traditional technology has proved the most profitable in terms of return for labour and capital investment. Traditional beekeeping is sustainable and not so dependent on optimum environmental conditions. Honey

Sometimes bee hives inside houses are given extra decoration. The owner stands beside the hive.

can be produced even in marginal conditions thus providing cash income in areas that cannot otherwise be used.

Traditional! beekeeping does not stick to fixed or immobile cultural activities or management methods. It always responds to the environmental and economic circumstances of the beekeeping community. It allows even substantial changes towards more efficient bee husbandry, with higher monetary returns per hectare than from subsistence agriculture.

Honeybee diseases and predators ALL PHOTOGRAPHS

REINHARD FICHTL

Eritrea is in the very fortunate position of no bee brood diseases having been found or

reported. Nosema and amoeba are the only diseases of adult bees present, but they are not too harmful.

Pests and parasites like wax moths, honey badgers, ants, bee-eating birds, lizards and spiders are present.

Support for projects After Eritrea won its war against Ethiopia in May 1991, the new government announced that 60% of the 95,000 fighters in the country would be demobilised in three phases. In the first phase, which took place in the latter part of 1993, 26,000 fighters were demobilised; 22,000 more fighters were demobilised in the second phase, which occurred in late 1994. In mid 1995 another 4000 fighters were dismissed from ministries and parastatal organisations A large number of the demobilised fighters a women.

The Reintegration of Demobilised Fighters Programme (MITIAS) was established to assist fighters in the process of reintegration into civilian life.

‘MITIAS’ is the name in Tigrinya given to a form of communal help rendered to one of their members starting a new life from zero.

Training MITIAS, with support from GTZ (Germany), will train numerous ex-fighters in existing traditional commercial bee farms. Only “on-the-job” training is used. Small funds will help the trainees to start establishing commercial bee farms immediately after

training.

SWARM TREATMENT Controlled swarming by deliberately leaving one or two queen cells in a hive is widely practised. if a swarm appears, the beekeepers (mostly women) search for the queen and keep her in a queen cage for several days. This allows the colony to settle in a newly prepared hive. During swarming periods the colonies are always watched carefully.

The regular catching of swarms is an important component of bee husbandry. If a wild swarm is found it will be taken home and put in a cleaned-up hive.

The queen will have her wings cut and will be caged for several days to prevent absconding.

Some beekeepers have increased swarm catching by hanging small empty ammunition crates or small traditional mud hives in the trees. They hope fora swarm to move in and then they will take it to their apiary. There the swarm will be transferred to an already prepared new hive.

TEN

Various designs of queen cages are used throughout Eritrea

A Bees for Development publication

BEEKEEPING

&

DEVELOPMENT 38

THE OIL BEAN TREE

Pentaclethra macrophylla by

Paul Latham

APICULTURAL VALUE The nectar produced by flowers of this tree is very attractive to bees.

Flowering continues over long periods when there is little other forage available.

Recommended for planting to increase honey production.

Family

Neganzi.

Other uses two main uses are for fuelwood and for ie edible seeds which are particularly liked in Nigeria. It makes a good firewood but gives off an unpleasant smell. It is also used for charcoal The ash from the seed pods can be used as a cooking salt. The seeds are edible after roasting or boiling for 12 hours.

They yield 30-36% of oil which is rich in protein, and is suitable for making candles and soap. Flour from the seeds can be used

™he

for bread making.

The timber is also used It is reddish brown and very hard and difficult to work. It can be used for turnery and general carpentry. It is reputed to be resistant to termite, fungal and insect attack. The tree is the host plant of an edible caterpillar (Misendi, Kicongo).

scription with a .@ tree grows to a height and down low girth up to 6 m, branching forming a spreading crown. The bole is of 21 m and

ALL PHOTOGRAPHS

Other names are Atta bean; Owala oil tree;

PAUL LATHAM

Leguminosae (Mimosaceae)

Seedling

Distribution

References

The oil bean tree grows in tropical West Africa extending from Angola to Senegal.

database.

Habitat Grows at altitudes from 0-500 m in forest fallows and is sometimes planted. It prefers a medium/loamy acid and well drained soil.

Rainfall 1500-2700m.

Practical notes The tree can be grown from stake cuttings, seedlings, direct sowing, or by budding. Shoot cuttings produce seed after four years. Budded trees fruit in three years. Normally in Zaire trees are planted from seed. The tree can be

coppiced.

ICRAF Multipurpose tree and shrub ICRAF, Nairobi, Kenya.

Irvine,F R (1966) Woody plants of Ghana. Oxford University Press, Oxford, United Kingdom.

Keay,R W (1989) Trees of Nigeria.

Oxford University Press, Oxford, United Kingdom. |

Kibungu Kembelo (1995) Plantes Hates des Chenilles Commestibles. jardin Botanique de Kisantu (Personal communication).

Branchlet, flower and pod

crooked with low wide buttresses.

Bark: greyish to dark reddish brown, thin,

flaking off in irregular patches; the slash is reddish orange.

Leaves: have a stout, angular common stalk, 20-45 cm long covered with rusty stellate hairs and consist of 10-12 pairs of stout opposite pinnae There are 12-15 pairs of opposite, stalkless leaflets.

Flowers: are creamy yellow or pinkish white, sweet smelling, crowded in narrow spikes 7-20 cm long.

Pods: are very persistent, 35-45 cm long, hard and woody, splitting open explosively and curling up; containing about 8 flat glossy brown seeds up to 7 cm long.

Flowering: January-May; July-December.

A Bees for Development publication

ELEVEN

BEEKEEPING

&

DEVELOPMENT 38

BEEKEEPING IN NAMIBIA “I did not know there was beekeeping in Namibia!” “Well, that is why we are here”.

The Forestry Research & Development Project, funded

by ODA (the United Kingdom Overseas Development Administration) first instigated a study of the potential for beekeeping in Namibia.

Nicola Bradbear made this

initial study.

The outcome was that a VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas) beekeeper, Derek Sherratt, was recruited. His task was, over several years, to establish apiaries in several different areas. Derek is now nearing the end of his two year contract and someone is need to replace him. Here Derek describes his achievements.

SHORTAGE OF BEES “Establishing apiaries proved to be difficult.

Only a couple of swarms were found and we had to rely on reports of colonies in various places such as houses, schools, and trees. The lack of bees has been due to two factors: @

The dry conditions of the country,

@

Honey hunting. This is widely practised.

The honey is taken at the start of winter when the bees are less defensive because of the cold. Even if the colony manages to survive no food supplies are available, leading to starvation of the colony.

GOOD ADVICE Bernhard Clauss’s books provided good practical ideas and these have been developed for local use. For example, top-bars initially had grooves in the middle for wax: now we

just pour wax along the bar with the aid of a guide stick.

Hive design has been an exciting and stimulating part of the project. A design taken from an Intermediate Technology plan for a top-bar hive was used initially. However wood has a high value in Namibia and certain features were thought to be too elaborate for local production.

LOCAL LIKES We have observed that bees have a liking for underground concrete stop tap boxes with a top entrance. We are trying to mimic this with a partially underground hive constructed in the same shape as a Kenya top-bar hive protruding out of the ground by a few centimetres. Wood ash surrounds the hive to deter ants. This hive can be made of concrete

|

VOLUNTEERS WANTED trained

people in beekeeping in 1995.

Many people are now going into beekeeping as a result of my sharing experiences with them in the Kom area, North West Province of Cameroon. [

21

The Family Association of Rural Development Project is starting number of training courses in beekeeping in 1996 and we will need your help. Any volunteers who are able to help please write to me for details. a

Simon Chia Ngwainmbi, Rehabilitation Department, Hépital Privé de Meskine, MCWA, BP 382, Marona, Cameroon. Fax: 237 29 25 97

TWEL,

or clay. The latter is very cheap, bringing the cost of the hive down from 10NS (30USS) to 25NS (7USS). Top-bars, made from local Kiaat wood (Pterocarpus angolensis), which does not warp (unlike the alternative South African pine) cost INS (0.3USS) each.

1

HONEY FOR SHOW Last year honey was produced from Combretum August and produce a delightful light honey with a taste similar to the wonderful aroma of the flowers. This was exhibited at the National Honey Show in London in November 1995. colinum trees which flower profusely in

Developing a new project is not easy. We are working within the Directorate of Forestry.

Finding staff to maintain a sustainable service has been a challenge. Mr Theodor Kaambu, who recently graduated from the forestry course at Ogongo started work on 2 January 1996 as a forest ranger responsible for beekeeping extension in the north west of the country. A national beekeeping officer, Magdalena Mwanyangapo, was appointed in mid-January. We now feel we have the support and capability to introduce a successful beekeeping programme within people's own communities.

Working in Namibia has been a delight. Much work has been done including the establishment of trees to complement the beekeeping.

An advertisement for a replacement for my position is shown on page 16 of this edition of B&D. would encourage any beekeeper who can give two years of their time to have a go do not think that you would be |

1

disappointed.”

LETTERS TO B&D

|

TRAINING WANTED lam

ea

beekeeper in Apac, Uganda. would like somebody to sponsor me to attend the training course in tropical beekeeping in Njiro, Tanzania. My house burnt down on the 2 January 1996. All my property and all my savings were lost. a

|

Thank you.

Willy Chong, Anyim Pwod Lac Beekeeping Project, PO Box 102, Apac, Uganda Willy Chong inspecting a locally made top-bar

hive

A Bees for Development publication

BEE REE PING

LOOK AHEAD

LEBANON First International Arab Apicultural Congress 17-20 August 1996, American University, Beirut

BELGIUM APIMONDIA International Apicultural Congress

Further details from: The Organizing Committee, PO Box 90, 1040 Beirut, Lebanon

1-6 September 1997, Antwerp

Further details from: APIMONDIA, General Secretariat, Corso Vittorio Emanuele I] 101, I-00186 Rome, Italy Fax: 39 6685 2286

BRAZIL XI Congresso Brasileiro de Apicultura

UNITED KINGDOM British Beekeepers’ Association Spring Convention 20 April 1996, Stoneleigh Further details from: BBKA, NAC Stoneleigh,

21-24 May 1996 Further details from: Prof Dr Ademilson Espencer

Egea Soares, Departamento de Genética, Faculdade de Medicina - USP, 14.049-900 Ribeirdo Preto - SP, Brazil

CANADA Seventh International Pollination Symposium 24-28 June 1996, Lethbridge Further details from: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge Research Station, Lethbridge, Alberta, Tl] 4B], Canada Fax: 403 382 3156 COSTA RICA Tropical Bees: Management and Diversity 12-17 August 1996, San José

IBRA, 18 North Road, Cardiff, United Kingdom

rther details from:

~. 1 3DY,

CUBA International Symposium on Honey Flora and Pollination III Apitherapy Symposium IV Propolis Symposium 21-24 August 1996, Havana City Further details from: Adolfo M Pérez, Estaci6n Experimental Apfcola, El Cano Arroyo Arenas La Lisa, Habana 19190, Cuba Fax: 537 33 5787/5086 GERMANY Third Symposium on Apiculture 22-26 August 1996, Jena Further details from: Dr Ursula Horn, Friedrich Schiller

Universitat, Am Steiger 3, D07743 Jena/Thiiringen, Germany Fax: 36 41 635 382

ISRAEL Bee Products: Properties, Applications and Apitherapy 26-30 May 1996, Tel Aviv Further details from: Congress Secretariat, n Knassim Ltd, POB 1931, Ramat-Gan 52118 ael 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

Kenilworth CV8 2LZ, United Kingdom Fax: (+44) 01203 690682

Domestication, Production and Utilisation of New Crops: Practical Approaches 8-10 July 1996, Southampton University Further details from: Dr N Haq, International Centre for Under-utilised Crops, Building 62, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 7PX, United Kingdom

VIETNAM Third Asian Apicultural Association Conference 6-10 October 1996, Hanoi Further details from: Third AAA Conference, Mrs Nguyen Thu Hang, Bee Research and Development Centre, Lang ha, Dong da, Hanoi, Vietnam Fax: 84 435 2725

LEARN AHEAD TANZANIA Training in Tropical Beekeeping Short courses in April and June 1996, Nijiro Wildlife Research Centre

NOTICE BOARD HONEY ANALYSIS |

have been a

melissopalynologist for 30 years and am available to make pollen and organoleptic analyses of honeys for scientific research, to determine quality and botanical origin of honey.

Analysis is free of charge.

If any beekeeping associations are interested please contact:

Professor G Ricciardelli D‘Albore, Entomological Agricultural Institute, Borgo XX Giugno, Universita di Perugia, Italy Fax: 39 (0)75 585 6039

VILLAGE AID Village Aid supports African village communities in their efforts to build sustainable local economies. Their projects are diverse and include beekeeping.

Write to: Village Aid, Riverside Works, Bakewell, Derbyshire DE45 iGJ, United Kingdom

ALTERNATIVE TRADE

UNITED KINGDOM AND TANZANIA Beekeeping in Rural Development

The International Federation for Alternative Trade will hold a series of regional meetings in 1996 to encourage new members and networking.

Wildlife Research Centre, PO Box 661, Arusha, Tanzania Fax: 255 57 8240 or from Bees for Development

September - October 1996, University of Wales Cardiff, United Kingdom and Njiro Wildlife Research Centre, Tanzania |

I

Further details from: Glynis Hudson, Continuing

Education Facilitator, University of Wales Cardiff, 51 Park Place, Cardiff CF] 3AT, United Kingdom Fax: (+44) 01222 874560

VENEZUELA Magister Scientiarum en Recursos Naturales Renovables - Produccién Animal Integral (Msc in Renewable Natural Resources - Integral Animal Production) Further details from: Programa de Produccién Animal UNELLEZ, Mesa de Cavacas 3323, Guanare, Edo

Portuguesa, Venezuela Fax: 57 68157

BEESWAX BARTER CANDLE CURRENCY ...

..

Beekeepers in developing countries (only!) may pay their subscription in pure beeswax or with pure beeswax candles. Since candles are of higher value than beeswax, only 2 kg of candles are needed to buy one subscription, and the lower weight of candles will also give savings in postage costs.

The rates are: kg beeswax or 2 kg candles to pay one subscription.

25 kg beeswax or 10 kg candles to pay ten subscriptions to one address.

A Bees for Development publication

DEVE Doe StE NE AS

Further details from: Njiro

For your event or Notice to appear here, send details to Bees for Development, Troy, Monmouth NP5 4AB, United Kingdom Fax: (+44) 016007 16167

5

Ss

For details contact: IFAT Secretariat, PO Box 500, Akron, PA 17501 0500, USA

PLANNING A

MEETING? If you are planning a beekeepers’ workshop then Bees for Development may provide you with past editions of B&D and other material for use by participants. Send details of your workshop and likely numbers of participants at least three months ahead of the date.

These are the conditions for paying in beeswax or candles: 1. Beeswax must be reasonably clean and of good quality. It must be presented in solid form and not as scraps of wax or pieces of comb.

2. Candies must be of saleable quality.

3 Beeswax from any species of Apis will be accepted as long as the name of the species from which it is collected is stated.

Inside the parcel state your name and address, the weight and origin of the beeswax, and the number of subscriptions you are paying. On the outside of the parcel state "BEESWAX RAW (OR CANDLES) FOR BEES FOR DEVELOPMENT" and the weight in kilograms.

Any parcel containing comb, very dirty wax or otherwise unusable wax will be destroyed on arrival at Bees for Development. [t will not be returned and will not be accepted for barter. . Arrangements for costs of carriage of beeswax or candles are the responsibility of the sender and Bees for Development wi!] not be responsible for any costs whatsoever. postage or other .

.

.

THIRTEEN

BEERLEPING

&

DEVELOPMENT 38

Soap recipes: seventy tried-and-true ways to make modern soap with herbs, beeswax and vegetable oils

Valley Hills Press, Starkville, USA (1995) 224 pages.

Paperback. Available from Bees for Development

BEESarin

BOOK

price 16.50

ss

EASE

7

ABR RU EN

Is there really that much you can say about

.This new publication by the soap? award-winning author of the popular Super Formulas certainly thinks so! The book begins with the basic procedures involved with soap making, and fragrances and colours used. Then hundreds of recipes including such interesting concoctions as “the mean green washing machine’, “the bee’s knees” and ..

n of Pollinatio i cultivateg Plants 'n the tropics

118

“pollen pleasure”. Tips on soap selling as your own business, what can go wrong, and frequently asked questions are backed up by an index, appendices, bibliography and conversion tables.

Bees and beekeeping in the former Dutch East Indies: with some references to Brunei, Serawak and Peninsular Malaysia Remy de Vries

by

Vries (1994) Printed at Sachit Copyright Remy Press, Kathmandu, Nepal. 49 pages. Paperback.

Available from Bees for Development price de

6.00 om

vows

@

Better Beginnings for

Beekeepers

i

'e_

Adrian Waring

This book will come as a delight for those interested in the traditions of Asian beekeeping. Remy de Vries has surveyed the vast literature written in the Dutch language during 150 years of exploration of south-east Asia. The anecdotes reveal the great significance of bees and beekeeping in both the religion and daily life of people in this region.

A few examples: @

Numerous authors from 1903 onwards expressed their ambition to keep Apis dorsata inside hives. (This idea was still being tried, fruitlessly, by people in the 1980s).

@

@

Despite a range of useful species of both Asian honeybees and stingless bees, colonialists always tried hard to introduce western honeybees.

Weare told of an early beeswax barter Pigafetta (1521) during his visit to the Moluccas obtained fifteen pounds of wax

FOURTEEN

(stingless bee wax) in exchange for one pound of scrap iron. @

And finally Riedel (1886) informs us: for the head hunters of Wetar (north-east of Timor) there were two reasons to cut off a stranger's head when met in the forest: firstly, the stranger might be a honey robber. and secondly, his dead body would attract bees to settle in the forest.

Pollination of cultivated plants

in the tropics

David W Roubik with eleven additional contributors

edited by

FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin 118, Rome, Italy (1995) 196 pages Paperback. Available from

Bees for Development price 18.50.

Here we have something new and excellent: a guide to pollination resources in the tropics.

The book is compendium of information concerning all the different aspects of the a

pollination of tropical crops: pollinators, pollination methods, ecological considerations, how to study pollination, using pollinators in tropical agriculture, anc much more.

One of the three appendices is a useful list of 1330 economically important plants species: their use, origin and pollination information.

Indices by scientific and common names are provided, and in a user-friendly way.

This A4 size book is packed full of information, all of which is accompanied by interesting and stimulating black and white illustrations.

Better beginnings for beekeepers by

Adrian Waring

BIBBA, Ripley, United Kingdom (1995) 68 pages.

Paperback. Available from

Bees for Development

price 5.75

The best way to learn the craft of beekeeping is from a beekeeper with years of experience.

Such a beekeeper will tell you what you need to know, not what you ought to know.

A Bees fer Development publication

|

BEEKEEPING

are highly complex. Together these give rise to co-ordination of the colony: there is no system of central planning within the hive neither the queen nor any other particular bees are ‘in charge’.

HonEY

SHELF Adrian Waring’s book starts with information about bees, and proceeding through equipment, management, harvest, and diseases, he describes everything that a beginner beekeeper needs to know. This would *

a helpful guide for anyone thinking of

VIDEO SHELF Rafter beekeeping with Apis dorsata in Vietnam

Running time 30 minutes. VHS 24.85 including postage & packing

ORDER NOW WHILE STOCKS LAST!

African honeybees - how to handle them in top-bar hives

BY FAX: (+44) 016007 16167

BY PHONE: (+44) 016007 13648

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

The wisdom of the hive Thomas D Seeley

Harvard University Press, London, United Kingdom (1996) 289 pages. Hardback. Available from Bees for Development price 36.50

They say good scientists are judged not by their answers but by their questions. By this measure Tom Seeley must be amongst the great bee scientists. He has asked the questions whose answers illustrate the great wisdom of the hive.

Script by Bernhard Clauss Running time 22 minutes. VHS 19.65 including postage & packing

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Understanding of the behaviour of honeybee colonies has moved on fast. Some of Tom Seeley’s first research in the late 1970s showed that a colony monitors an area of more than 100 km? around its hive and rapidly redistributes foragers accordingly. Since then has come understanding that nectar processing is fine-tuned to match nectar collecting, pollen intake is controlled by supply and demand, comb is only built when it is needed.

Tom Seeley explains the mechanisms by which many such things work within the honeybee colony; he explains what we know, and how we know it. Some mechanisms are simple, others

beekeeping.

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Some of his questions: Which “|. Which bees gather information? rmation is shared?

How do employed foragers read information on the How does a colony adjust dance floor?

How nectar collecting according to supply? do comb builders know when to build comb?

What stimulates bees to collect water?

What tells them to stop? ...”

A Bees for Development publication

DEVELOPMENT 38

ORDER TODAY

rting. They will gain the understanding of bees that leads to good beekeeping. Some of the information relates to frame hive beekeeping in the United Kingdom.

by

Space here does not allow me to pay proper justice to this marvellous book. Most beekeepers already think their bees are pretty smart - this book will only increase your admiration.

A good value textbook and essential reading for all who dare to lecture on honeybee biology.

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Bees for Development please

Books for Sale Bees for Development tries hard to stock all the best books on beekeeping and development, especially those published by people working in developing countries.

B&D readers - if you find something good that you think others would enjoy: share your information with us!

they are changed occasionally by publishers.

What to Buy? Not sure what to choose? We will be happy to advise you. We can also suggest selections for apicultural libraries for beekeeping clubs, projects, institutes or associations.

FIFTEEN

Development Overseas, underpaid. ..and the best job in the world.

WHEN RESPONDING

TO ADVERTISEMENTS

The (inter) National Honey Show Shows the World's Best Honey at the World’s Best Honey Show

28-30 November 1996 in London, UK It's not too soon to prepare exhibits for the Show!

Beekeepers for Namibia and Ghana

Even if you can’t attend you

Sharing your skill to help people in developing countries become self-sufficient is one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences in the world.

Voluntary Service Overseas has opportunities for three beekeepers:

send

can

exhibits Beeswax Candles can be posted!

Beekeeping Instructors

Qualified beekeepers with training skills and practical experience are required to offer beekeeping education and training to school leavers and the unemployed. In addition, you would implement your own beekeeping projects at community level for income generation.

Small amounts of honey can be sent for a

including commitment, Equally essential are the right personal qualities, — sensitivity towards a different culture, resilience and a good sense of humour.

You should also be aged between 20-70, without dependent children, able to spend at least two years overseas working for a modest living allowance, and have unrestricted right of re-entry into the UK.

Become a Member

SPECIAL WORLD CLASS

and have FREE entry to the Show and the opportunity to exhibit in dozens more classes

For further details and an application form, please send a brief summary of — ~ your qualifications/work experience quoting ref. BFD to: Atha Murphy,

Schedules will be availabie in Auqust

VSO Enquiries Unit, 317 Putney Bridge Road, London SWI15 2PN. Or call: 0181-780 1331.

VSO constantly has a wide range of natural resources jobs overseas.

WSO

from the Hon. Secretary, Rev. F. Capener

Baldric Road, Folkestone, CT20 2NR, UK VSO enables men and women to work alongside people in poorer countries in order to share skills, build capabilities and promote international understanding and action, in the pursuit of a more equitable world.

Please support the National Honey Show Registered Charity No 233656

Charity no 313757

EXTRA INCOME

FROM PROPOLIS

manufactured from polyethylene, polypropylene & stainless steel

|

Filter System & Warming Unit

WHAT IS PROPOLIS OR BEE GLUE? Propolis is that brown black sticky stuff that bees seal up thejr nest with. In modern times is now worth collecting and propolis is often thrown away. But times have changed and if

DO YOU wish to:

—»

Save Time?

Improve Quality?

—_ mess?

LESS Have — y» Have EASY cleaning?

—y» YES; then you need

:

selling added value to the honey crop

Propolis from the Greek fiterally means DEFENDER OF THE CITY. Collected from trees and plants by the bees, this largely resinous substance is worked on in the hive to produce a] glue with which they seal up the hive against infection. Intruders into the hive too large to remove physically are first stung to death then are coated in propolis and can then remain J §

perfecily preserved for years preventing danger of infection. external immune system.

DOW

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Propolis is the Bee Colonies

IPS UseD

Patent Filter System

Propolis has been used by nian asa natural medicine since Egyptian times. Over the last fifty years modern scientific and medical research has shown that propolis has antibiotic antiviral to anti-fungal anti-inflammatory antiseptic and analgesic properties and is now used treat illnesses like arthritis - asthma - skin complaints and fungal infections.

Basic filter Medium filter Fine filter

BEE HEALTH LTD. in the UK have done

more than any other company in the last three years to help “rediscover” PROPOLIS. They are offering {o buy propolis from around the world and at the same time support the BEES for DEVELOPMENT.

f

use frame hives, you can collect propolis either by scraping it from the frame or by inserting screens in the hive containing small holes which the bees fill with propolis again to seat the hive. At the end of the season the screen is removed, There is no standard method for J harvesting propolis from traditional hives: perhaps you can invent onc! §

For further information contact James Fearnley at:

1, Racecourse Road, East Ayton Scarborough, North Yorkshire YO13 9HT

TEL. 01723 864001 FAX: 01723 862455

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GARN PRO DUCTS, 25 & 28 SAGES LANE PETERBOROUGH, PE4 6AT, UK Tel no. 01733 571172

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Beekeeping & Development is published quarterly by Bees fer Development, Troy, Monmouth, NP5 4AB, United Kingdom Telephone +(44) 016007 13648 Fax: +(44) 016007 16167 E-Mail: 100410.2631@CompuServe.COM Environmentally friendly paper

Bees for Development ISSN 0256 4424