BEEKEEPING & DEVELOPMENT 41
NEWS FROM NJIRO A bee smoker appropriate for African conditions by
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O Koisianga
INTRODUCTION A smoker is a very important tool used when beekeepers and honey hunters work with bees. In its modern shape it is metal container filled with smoke-giving material and a ows to produce the air flow. It is necessary ~emoke honeybees before the colony is touched. The smoke is puffed into the colony and the bees sense it. They move back to the combs and concentrate on eating honey. The most commonly accepted theory about smoke is that it breaks the communication within the colony and causes bees to engorge themselves with nectar or honey. Thus they prepare to abandon the hive and avoid the source of the smoke. The result of smoking bees is that they become less defensive and less likely to sting. a
THE PROBLEM Many modern smokers are unable to calm African bees. These modern smokers need refuelling inconveniently often when working with African bees. When used intensively they produce a hot blue smoke that burns the bees and makes them aggressive. The modern okers are also too expensive for poor keepers.
Tanzania three types of smokers are used by beekeepers: traditional smokers; locally made, modern style smokers; and imported smokers. In
Traditional smokers Honey gatherers smoke bees when harvesting honey. Some of these gatherers burn pieces of plant or fruit to produce smoke Some cut branches and grass They make a fire on the
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ground directly beneath the colony so that the smoke blows in the direction of the colony. Honey collecting this way is done usually ona dark night. This gives the beekeeper some defence against the angry bees. However these traditional methods can cause forest fires and also harm the bees and make them abscond. These methods are still used by honey hunters and beekeepers.
PRACTICAL
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Locally made, modern style smokers According to reports from beekeepers, locally made smokers are neither efficient nor durable. They claim that these smokers give hot smoke that makes bees more vicious instead of calming them. At the same time the smoker itself becomes very hot and becomes difficult to hold. This is due to use of the wrong type of tin in making the smoker body. However we have seen some smokers made locally from scrap material that work very well The problem is that their volume is too small.
Imported smokers Many imported smokers are unable to calm African bees. These European-style, modern smokers are durable and efficient but expensive: beekeepers cannot afford to buy them. Most imported smokers are also small and therefore burn out quickly and need to be re-filled.
Mr Koisianga with fis ideal smoker
THE OBJECTIVE We have seen how each smoking method has disadvantages. The objective of this project was to test and develop an appropriate bee smoker for African conditions, and to recommend the best materials to use as fuel.
TRADITIONAL SMOKER MATERIALS
Place in Tanzania
Tribe
Smoker material
Zanzibar Kondoa
Waswahili Wasandawe
A thick sisal rope
Arusha/Kilimanjaro
Wameru/Wachaga
Coconut shell with natural fibres
Kiteto/Simanjiro Dodoma
Puff balls (a type of fungi) Waarusha/Wamasai Dry stick of Commiphora africana (osilalei) Cow dung in local bee smoker of Botswana type Wagogo
Many parts of Tanzania
Many tribes
A bunch of dry grass, sticks or leaves wrapped in green leaves
A Bees for Development publication
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