Bees for Development Journal Edition 48 - September 1998 by Bees for Development

The journal for sustainable

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BEEKEEPING & DEVELOPMENT 48

Regular readers know that Beekeeping & Development is not afraid of sparking controversy. [n this edition Werner Lohr writes a tough critique of beekeeping projects. He believes that too many beekeeping projects fail, and in his article on page ten he tells us the reasons why.

dear Friends

IN THIS

From India we bring the story of apple farmers who just cannot get enough bees to pollinate their crops. The farmers and the government are taking drastic steps to alleviate the problem.

ISSUE

Inside Information

Garbage Power!

Apis cerana keep Varroa in check

Look & Learn

Ahead.

Successful Pollination of Apples........ 6 Zoom in on Papua New Guinea

Trees Bees Use

Sustainable Beekeeping Development?

News Around the World

Notice Board

Bookshelf

14.

It is well-known that Varroa jacobsoni, the mite that is the scourge of Apis mellifera beekeeping, enjoys a normal host-predator relationship with the Asian hive bee,

Apis cerana. How does Apis cerana manage to survive in the presence of Varroa jacobsont? On pages four and five Otto Boecking reveals Apis cerana’s excellent defence

mechanisms. On the opposite page we show how to make a cost-free battery completely from waste. Perhaps you have good access to electricity, but what an excellent demonstration and talking point this could make at your next beekeepers’ meeting.

With information about one of the world’s big honey producing trees Melaleuca, and “Zooming into Papua New Guinea”, we are sure that you will find plenty of stimulating reading in this edition!

Nibla frradheay

INSIDE INFORMATION EDITORIAL

Further reading BOECKING,O;

al (1993) American Bee Journal. 133: 117-119

BOECKING,O, RITTER,W (1994) American 134: 689-694

BUCHLER.R;

Bee Journal.

al (1992) Exp. Appl. Acarol. 16: 313-319

DELFINADO-BAKER,M; Acarology 18: 315-322

ef al

(1992) International Journal of

FRIES,|; ef al (1996) Apidologie 27: 3-11

KOENIGER,N; PENG.Y C. 49: 54-60

Figure 2. “Non-removai” and plugging the pore

FOUR

al (1983) Apidologie 14: 197-204

al (1987) Journal of Invertebrate Pathology.

RATH,W (1992) American

Bee Journal. 132:

329-331

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BEEKEEPING

DEVELOPMENT 48

Non-removal behaviour This removal behaviour is shown much less in Apis cerana’s Varroa-infested drone brood cells. Perhaps worker bees are hindered from

uncapping mite-infested drone cells because of the unique, thick cocoon capping of Apis cerana drone cells. Maybe this allows Varroa to reproduce in only drone brood. But in the case of multiple-infested drone brood cells (more than two invaded mother mites per cell) the parasitised drones are weakened and they are not able to open the cell capping from the inside.

Varroa Trap Adult worker bees also do not open these highly-infested drone cells from the outside, the parasitised drones have to die together with the whole number of infesting mites in the cell. We can describe this as a natural “Varroa-trap” (Figure 2). This non-removal behaviour of Apis cerana towards multipleinfested drone cells is sometimes also supplemented by the worker bees plugging the central pore with wax material from outside (Figure 2A). This plugging of the central pore in Apis cerana drone cells by the worker bees can also be seen during infestation with European foulbrood, isolating this pathogen within the brood nest (Figure 2B). If the colony now absconds, many pathogens are left behind in the old nest, isolated in the non-removed and plugged cells.

Grooming behaviour Another known defence behaviour of Apis cerana that keeps Varroa in check is the bees’ grooming behaviour towards mites (Figure 3). Sometimes worker bees realise that mites are hiding on them. They try to get rid of them by self-grooming. If they fail to remove the mites they ask for help from nestmates using a specific shaking dance. Self- and nestmate-grooming leads to a disturbance and sometimes killing of the mites by the bees. The distinct phoretic positions preferred by the Varroa mites on the bodies of the bees show some adaptation towards escape from the grooming behaviour of the bees. During evolution Apis cerana bees have developed a complex of these defence behaviours to keep Varroa in check. “How clever they are!” Varroa jacobsoni has only recently been spread into populations of Apis mellifera bees that fail to keep Varroa in check. This is because the

defence behaviours present in Apis cerana exist to only a small extent in Apis mellifera, and its reproduction system is highly favourable for the Varroa mite to build large

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LOOK AHEAD AUSTRALIA International Union for the Study of Social Insects 29 December 1998 - 4 January 1999, Adelaide Further information from: Dr M P Schwarz,

Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, Australia

BRAZIL

Xi Brazilian Apiculture Congress 10-13 November 1998, Bahia Further information from: Secretaria,

INTERLINK, Rua Teixeira Leal, 107-A, Graga, CEP 40150-050 Salvador, Bahia, Brazil Fax (+71) 336 5633 E-mail interlink@e-net.com.br

CANADA Apimondia International Apicultural Congress 12-18 September 1999, Vancouver Further details from: Apimondia 99, c/o

Venue West Conference Services, #645 - 375 Water Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 5CB, Canada Fax (+604) 681 2503 E-mail congress@venuewest.com

CHILE Sustainable Management of Forest Resources: Challenge of the 21st Century 22-28 November 1998, Valdivia Further details from: Secretaria de CONAF, Avenida Bulnes 286 6e piso, Valdivia, Chile Fax (+56) 2697 2273 E-mail dejecuti@iusanet.cl

INDIA Fifth International Congress International Society for Ethnopharmacology: Plant Derived Drugs in the 21st Century 8-12 February 1999, Thiruvananthapuram Further details from: Dr V George, Tropical Botanic Garden & Research Institute, Pacha Palode PO, Thiruvananthapuram, 695 562 Kerala, India Fax (+91) 471 431 178

ISRAEL XIV International Plant Protection Congress 25-30 July 1999, Jerusalem Further details from: Congress Secretariat,

XIV International Plant Protection

Congress, PO Box 50006, Tel Aviv 61500, Israel Fax (+972) 3514 0077

SOUTH AFRICA North Transvaal Beekeepers’ Association 60th Jubilee Symposium Beekeeping for Profit 30 September - 2 October 1998, Pretoria Further details from: NTBA Jubilee

Symposium, PO Box 29490, Sunnyside, Pretoria 0132, South Africa

THAILAND Fifth Asian Apicultural Association Conference 19-25 March 2000, Chiang Mai Further details from: Asian Apicultural

Association, c/o Honeybee Science Research Center, Tamagawa University, Machida Shi, Tokyo 194-8610, Japan Fax (+81) 427 39 8854 E-mail hitomi@agr.tamagawa.ac.jp

TOBAGO Caribbean Beekeeping Congress 17-20 November 1998 Further details from: Caribbean

Beekeeping Congress, c/o Technical Support Unit, Level 2, NIB Mall, Scarborough, Tobago, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies Fax (+868) 639 4464 E-mail caribees@tstt.net.tt

UNITED KINGDOM National Honey Show 25-28 November 1998, London

Visit the:

“

Development

Further details from:

stand here— Rev F Capener, Baldric Close, Folkestone, Kent CT20 2NR, United Kingdom Tel/Fax (+44) 1303 254 579 E-mail nathon@amigabee.org.uk 1

LEARN AHEAD

BRAZIL Courses in Spanish, Centro de Apicultura Tropical 19-23 October 1998 Beekeeping management 9-13 November 1998 Wax technology and analysis 23-27 November 1998 Queen rearing Further details from: Centro de Apicultura Tropical, Avenida Manuel César Ribeiro, 1920 Caixa Postal 176, 12400-970 Pindamonhangaba SP, Brazil E-mail ethel@iconet.com.br We can print notice of your meeting or workshop in Look Ahead or Learn Ahead if you send details well in advance to

Bees for Development, at

the address on

page two

FIVE

BEEKEEPING & DEVELOPMENT 48

LACK OF POLLINISERS

Honeybees for rent

few years ago the farmers had many apple varieties: Commercial, Golden, Jonathan, Red Gold, Kali Devi, Red and Royal Delicious. These provided compatible pollen to other varieties and good fruit set. Since 1980 because of the better market value of Royal Delicious, farmers have uprooted other varieties and planted Royal Delicious on a large scale. All new orchards have been planted

The number of bee colonies available for rent from the Department of Horticulture is low and the demand for bees is very high. Therefore, to provide bee colonies for a number of farmers, very weak colonies are offered, with only one or two frames covered with bees.

only with Royal Delicious. However, Royal Delicious is completely self-sterile and requires pollen from other compatible or polliniser varieties for fruit set to occur. Appropriate ratios of apple pollinisers do not exist and some farmers have no polliniser trees.

blooming.

Short-term solution Farmers place polliniser branches in plastic bags filled with water and hang these on Royal Delicious trees. This type of pollination management is called ‘Bouquet Pollination’, and the polliniser branches ‘Bouquets’.

Bouquet pollination was first started by Mr Gulab Singh in 1994 in Kullu District. Previously fruit set in his orchard had been down to only 10%, but using bouquet pollination he obtains excellent fruit set. All the farmers in nearby villages went to Mr Gulab Singh’s orchard to investigate his pollination management. They were very impressed and the following year all used bouquet pollination as a short-term solution for polliniser management. It increased fruit yield by about 50%.

ensure

beekeepers are being encouraged to rent their bees for pollination by increased rental fees.

in th

great pollin:

apple

by Uma Partap.,,

Some farmers who do not have enough polliniser trees are stealing polliniser branches from other orchards. There are many cases of such theft. As a result whenever farmers see somebody with scissors, they chase the intruder away. We met one farmer in the Manali Valley carrying a load of blooming polliniser branches. We asked him to stop as we wanted to photograph him with these branches. He was afraid and told us that he brought these branches from his own orchard and was going to hang them in his uncle’s orchard.

Himachal Pradesh is in the north-w es as the ‘Fruit State’ of India. Applies State, accounting for over 80% of t planted in the mountainous Distri ct parts of Solan, of which Kullu and § hi producing areas. During the pasit Himachal Pradesh has bee:n Information gathered by the Beekee:p that this decline in productivity is (Jt 1998 a study was conducted t In recent years the best apple crop w

been a serious decline in productit pollination failure. The various

Farmers are ready to pay any price for hiring bees: some “Bouquet pollination”: a short-term solution which farmers hire Apis cerana provides polien immediately in log hives at the rate of Rs300 per colony. The State Government is making efforts to encourage farmers to keep their own bees for pollination and has created the

Unexpected problems

Farmers go to

Some commercial beekeepers migrate their bees to the Indian plains during winter until June. They are not interested to bring their bees back earlier for apple pollination because they obtain abundant honey from berseem and sunflower in the plains. These crops bloom for long periods and produce much more nectar than apple. The beekeepers earn much better money from the sale of honey, than by renting bees for apple pollination. Now these

Farmers are now aware of the need for pollinisers, for good yields and apple quality, and are planting pollinisers. Some farmers are grafting pollinisers on to Royal Delicious trees. Farmers in Shimla District have grafted a polliniser variety called Snowdrift, selected from crab apple, a wild apple variety. Snowdrift acts as the bouquet and has a long flowering period of more than a month, providing pollen to many other varieties, whether early or late

SUCCE. POLLIN OF AF

Beekeeping Development Office (BKDO), within the

The large-scale use of plastic bags for hanging pollinisers in trees has led to a four-fold increase in the price of plastic bags!

LACK OF POLLINATORS Lack of pollinating insects due to the heavy use of insecticides over the past decades is another factor. Farmers have been spraying pesticides eight to ten times each season including the blooming period of apple trees. Bees, butterflies, and moths on

Hiring honeybees for pollination Insect pollinators are still needed to transfer the pollen grains from the polliniser to the main variety. For this purpose farmers are renting honeybees (Apis cerana and Apis mellifera). The Department of Horticulture rents Apis mellifera colonies at the rate of Rs250 per colony, (Rs200 as security and Rs50 as rent). Private beekeepers = Rs42 charge Rs800 (Rs500 security, Rs300 as rent). SUS 1

SIX

PHOTOGRAPHS & UMA PARTAP

apple flowers have all disappeared.

Grafted polliniser branch which will take at least two years produce flowers

Large-scale apple cultivation

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BEEKEEPING

VATION *PLES Himalayas lengths to

he If

iation of their crops _ICIMOD, Nepal ‘ast Indian Himalayas and is known res are the main cash crop of the total fruit production. Trees are icts of Kinnaur, Kullu, Shimla and ihimla Districts are the major apple ‘it few years apple production in én declining continuously. ‘

Department of Horticulture. BKDO sells an Apis mellifera bee colony at the highly subsidised rate of just Rs300: the market price is over Rs2000. Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry also

provides bee colonies free of charge to apple farmers and offers training on how to use bees for pollination.

In Kullu District, there is only one commercial beekeeping farm, Yama Bee Farms, renting Apis mellifera for pollination. In Shimla there are more commercial beekeepers who rent out bees for

apple pollination.

Need for training apple growers to manage bees

Farmers have a great awareness of the role of honeybees in pollination, but they have no knowledge of bee behaviour. They want to keep bees at any cost: a farmer stole a honeybee colony from a neighbour one night and kept it in his orchard in the hope that the bees would The number of bee colonies used for pollination is too small pollinate his apples during the night. Early in the morning, he put the bee colony back in the owner’s orchard!

ping Project of ICIMOD has shown ‘due to pollination failure. In April to investigate the problem. was in 1989. Since then there has (ity (farmers estimate 50%) due to 'S reasons are discussed here. |

Use of pesticides Farmers sprayed chemicals even if there was no disease, to prevent the

outbreak of apple scab and red apple

mites. They are now aware of the harmful impact of insecticides on natural

pollinators, and have reduced pesticide application from ten, to five or six sprays a year, usually using the least toxic chemicals. They spray pesticides when insect pollinators are not present a week before or after apple flowering. Some large-scale farmers are controlling apple pests through biological pest control rearing various predatory insects against the pests.

DEVELOPMENT 48

Acknowledgements The author wishes to express sincere gratitude to Dr Harish K Sharma, Dr K C Thakur, Dr R Kumar, Dr Neelima R Kumar, Professor D R Gautam, and Professor L R Verma. The author is also thankful to the farmers of Kullu and Shimla Districts. Financial assistance from the Federal Chancellery of Austria through Austroprojekt to carry out this study is

acknowledged.

Hand pollination Some farmers in Shimla District are very progressive and are hand pollinating their apples to ensure the flowers are adequately pollinated. According to them this is most important to ensure the quality and yield of apple. They can afford to hire labour for hand pollination of their orchards. Anthers are picked from the flower of the polliniser variety at the ‘balloon’ stage (partially open flowers) and dried at 22°C overnight to release the pollen grains. These are mixed up with a little white flour or skimmed milk powder and applied to flowers of the main variety (within two days of flowers opening) with the help of a brush. Between 20 and 50 flowers are hand pollinated on one branch and then honeybees transfer this pollen to other flowers of the branch. The role of honeybees is crucial in apple pollination, both in hand pollination of the crop and polliniser management, either by grafting, or hanging pollinisers on the main varieties.

CLIMATE CHANGE Climate change during the past eight years has played a critical role in apple pollination failure. There are rains during the flowering season which affect pollination by wind and insects. Low temperatures also adversely affect fruit set in apple.

Temperature management If there is a possibility of frost the farmers collect grasses and burn them in the orchards to raise the temperature by a few degrees. Some farmers in Shimla District spray the orchard with pure water at midnight to avoid frost the following morning. Farmers also spray chemicals such as borax, TSO or some alternative insecticides on a limited scale to delay flowering by about one week to prevent flowering when the temperature is very low.

CONCLUSION Apple farmers in Himachal Pradesh are now well aware of the need for pollination and are making all possible efforts to ensure pollination occurs: managing pollinisers and pollinators, and opting for strategies to avoid the effects of low temperatures or frost on pollination and fruit set.

in Shimla District

Farmers in Shimla District believe hand pollination is the most reliable method

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Government institutions in the State have an explicit mandate to educate the apple farmers on how to achieve good yields, but they have limited resources to cope with the large-scale extension needed in this area. SEVEN

Size 462 840 km’. 85% is Papua New Guinea mainland and the remainder is on 600 islands.

Population 4.04 million GNP

STEFAN BERG

1.236 Kina per capita (= 848 SUS). Agriculture accounts for 25% of the GNP.

IRIAN JAYA

Bismarck Sea

’

Papua New Guinea lies south of the equator, to the north of Australia. It is the last of the string of islands spilling down from south-east Asia into the Pacific and forms a transition zone between the two areas. Papua New Guinea occupies the eastern side the island, while the western side is Indonesia (Inan Jaya).

PHOTOGRAPHS

Location

“sof Ong

Langstroth frame hives

Geography and agriculture Coral Sea

The Papua New Guinea mainland has mountains rising to 4500 m providing variation in vegetation although tropical rainforest is dominant. Almost 90% of the land area is covered by forests. There are large areas of swamps and savannah grasslands in the low-lying areas. Vegetation is diverse with 9000 plant species, over 200 of which are tree-size, and are found mostly in the lowland rainforest. The climate is generally tropical with high humidity and high temperatures, although temperatures are considerably lower in the Central Highlands. There is heavy rainfall almost

Only a few beekeepers own extractors, the majority extract their honey at centralised honey factories.

everywhere.

Number of beekeepers

Agriculture

Precise number is unknown, but less than 400.

Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy as 85% of the population cultivate 6 million hectares of land, either for subsistence agriculture or cash crops. Subsistence crops include cocoyam, sweet potato and yam. Small holders account for most of the output of the three main agriculture export commodities: cocoa, coffee and copra. Rubber, tea and pyrethrum are other important export crops.

Annual honey production was about 100 tonnes in the 1980s. Due to the current critical situation of the beekeeping industry honey production is now only 20-30 tonnes annually. Typical annual yield per colony is about 15 kg.

Honeybees

Varroa jacobsont and Tropilaelaps clareae occur but are not a serious problem. Varroa jacobsoni is not

There are no indigenous honeybees in Papua New Guinea. Apis mellifera was first introduced to Papua New Guinea from Australia during the 1940s, and further introductions have subsequently occurred from both Australia and New Zealand, mainly Apis mellifera ligustica. In 1986 the Asian hive bee Apis cerana was detected, probably spread from Irian Jaya Apis cerana is not used for beekeeping:

Beekeeper with Langstroth hive

We are grateful for this information prepared by Stefan Berg, Api-Promo, Germany; and Thomas Kustermann,

German Development Service (DED), Vietnam.

EIGHT

Problems The centralised organisation of the beekeeping industry, with honey factories where the beekeepers process their honey is uneconomical. The same !s true of the equipment which is very expensive and mostly has to be imported. Currently the honey factories owned by the national beekeeping association are facing financial problems and are more or less out of action.

Honey production

Honeybee diseases, pests and predators

reproducing in Apis mellifera colonies, and Tropilaelaps clareae seems not to be spreading. The most destructive pests are wax moths. Of minor impact are Acarapis dorsalis, Acarapis externus, Nosema, and sacbrood.

Beekeeping Association Honey Producers Pty Ltd, PO Box 566, Goroka.

Beekeeping

Research

Because of the absence of indigenous honeybees there is no traditional beekeeping. Beekeeping was introduced by expatriates and missionaries. The introduced beekeeping technology is using Langstroth (frame) hives. Since the early 1970s the number of hived colonies has increased to approximately 4000 owned by 400 beekeepers in the 1980s. At present the number of active beekeepers and colonies is assumed to be far less because of serious problems within the beekeeping industry.

Beekeeping research is conducted under the National Agriculture Research Institute, mainly focusing on research into the two bee mites Varroa jacobsoni and Tropilaelaps clareae.

Projects Foreign governments especially Australia and New Zealand have assisted with the development of apiculture in Papua New Guinea. The Australian government is assisting in the research on bee mites.

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BEEKEEPING

DEVELOPMENT 48

Melaleuca leucadendron by Nguyen Quang Tan, of University Agriculture and Forestry, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Apicultural value Melaleuca leucadendron is the most important source of nectar and pollen for Apis dorsata

and Apis florea in the swampy forests of southern Vietnam. It is also a good source for Apis cerana in Malaysia and for Apis mellifera in Florida, USA.

Synonym NGUYEN QUANG TAN

Melaleuca cajuputi Powell

Family Myrtaceae

Distribution

PHOTOGRAPHS

Tropical Asia, Australia, Central America and Florida.

Description An evergreen tree or shrub, very common in coastal areas. The woody tree, with a narrow crown, can reach 25 min height and 40 cm in diameter. The shrub straggles along the

Flowers and leaves of Melaleuca leucadendron

ground,

Bark: thick, soft, shaggy, white, like paper. Leaves: 4-8 cm long, 1-2 cm wide, oil-containing

Flowers: White, fragrant with

a fluff of long

stamens, copious nectar flow.

Flowering: two periods

a year, from January

to April and from July to August.

Honey: amber coloured with a tendency for further darkening, with a strong and distinctive smell

Wood: Hard and fairly heavy Uses Melaleuca shrub: oil extract from the leaves is used in medicine, as an insect repellent, and in soap manufacturing Melaleuca tree trunks: used in construction and for fuelwood. Melaleuca bark. used as smoker fuel Also used as packing material Melaleuca honey. in Vietnam tens of tonnes of honey are harvested from Apis dorsata colonies by the rafter beekeeping technique Up to 100 tonnes are harvested by professional Apis mellifera beekeepers each year

See ordering

ur‘bees have favourite trees? bret) welcome to send your contribution to TREES mate USE ‘Do

A Bees for Development publication

in Vietnam

Bees and Forest in the Tropics (} Beetsma, editor), NECTAR, Netherlands pp 27-41

Melaleuca Symposium, September 1980 Flonda Division of Forestry, Florida, USA pp 79-80

Melaleuca leucadendron

ace

florea in submerged Melaleuca forests

Rafter beekeeping in Vietnam the Apimondia Gold Medal winning video is available from

information on page

MULDER,V (1995) Honey and wax production from Apis dorsata and Apis

ROBINSON, F (1980) Relationship of

Bees for Development price

KIEW,R, MUID,M (1991) Beekeeping in Malaysia: pollen atlas Umted Selangor Press Sdn Bhd, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Read more about Rafter beekeeping in Vietnam in page 8

B&D36

References

Melaleuca to beekeeping

Proceedings of

TAN,NGUYEN QUANG, CHINH,P H; THAILP H, MULDER,V (1997) Rafter beekeeping with Apis dorsata; some factors affecting the occupation of rafters by bees Journal of Apicultural Research 36(1): 49-54

NINE

BEEKEEPING

DEVELOPMENT 48

SUSTAINABLE BEEKEE! by Werner Lohr,

The objective of this study was to create higher awareness in those who are engaged in the planning and implementation of beekeeping projects in developing countries regarding the transfer of beekeeping technology and know-how from the North to the South; and the integration of local micro enterprises (the so-called “informal sector”) for the production of inputs for beekeeping, in order to assure sustainability of projects.

Methods

Project planning: bees and beekeeping

API-Promo GTZ analysed 35 beekeeping projects, beekeeping activities, and beekeeping components as a part of integrated projects carried out by different aid organisations during the past 20 years in Africa, Latin America and Asia. This analysis was carried out by studying project documents and literature, interviewing people involved, and visiting projects.

techniques were the main focal! points rather than the people: their sex, age, socio-economic status, potentials, capabilities and interests in beekeeping.

Economic viability: income people might earn through beekeeping was highly over-estimated. Natural resources and the absorbing capacity of markets were not

Findings

properly analysed.

About 75% of the evaluated projects had a very low impact on the local beekeeping industry. 35% failed totally to have any impact. Most projects worked well as long as the consultants or volunteers looked after the implementation. In most cases this changed immediately after their departure or when projects were phased

Time horizons of projects and backstopping: the time of implementation

out.

Among the many reasons identified for the failure of projects, the following are of special interest: @

Sector policies at national level:

in most

countries governments showed, and still show, only a little interest in supporting the beekeeping industry; @

Feasibility studies: traditional beekeeping systems and their importance in the rural economy, and social value were not profoundly analysed;

was too short, and monitoring and follow-up were not actioned correctly.

Professionality of supporting agencies: in most cases extensionists are not practical

beekeepers, but solely theoreticians and modernists. This results in low confidence among rural people and ineffective extension services.

Technology and know-how transfer: most projects concluded right at the beginning that existing traditional systems were not apt to develop the industry, and concentrated on changing these in a short time and in big steps. The degree of applied appropriate technologies was very low.

1,000’s of reasons for being at the 67th National Honey Show

e Natio |

® ~~

% Mey

@:-

—s-

Trophies and Cash Prizes Ingenious Inventions Stunning Displays Lots of Lectures Famous Faces Top Traders The Best of Friends

Show your Best Honey to the World at the Best Honey Show in the World 26th, 27th & 28th November 1998 at Kensington Town Hall, London Full details from:

TEN

API-Pre

Reverend F Capener 1 Baldric Road, Folkestone CT20 2NR, United Kingdom tel & fax: +44 (0) 1303 254 579 e-mail: nathon@amigabee.org.uk Registered Charity 233656

A Bees for Development publication

BEEKEEPING & DEVELOPMENT 48

‘(PING DEVELOPMENT? Promo GTZ, Germany

Factor cost: the inputs used to develop the industry were too expensive, non-appropriate and not available at village level.

Most project conceptionalists are convinced that the top-bar hive solves most of the problems related to traditional beekeeping and honey hunting, for all groups and individuals, in all developing countries. For them the top-bar hive is simple in design (low-technology) and in handling, the hive has almost all the advantages necessary for good management and sustainable beekeeping and the costs of the hive, are, in their eyes, low. As a consequence most projects promoted top-bar hive

Conclusion To avoid project failure due to high input costs and non-appropriate technologies, and to guarantee high sustainability: ® traditional beekeeping systems and the technical skills of the people should be studied more profoundly before a project starts; @

different resource persons, familiar with the rural and social-economic conditions, and development aspects should be consulted;

beekeepers, honey hunters and newcomers to beekeeping need different levels of training and equipment according to their problems, capabilities and resources;

as soon as possible local people have to be trained as trainers and project conductors and the project must become their own

technology. But, the reality is different. In most cases they overlook that honey hunters and traditional

beekeepers: @

are not interested in intensive management of hives;

are not able to handle top-bar hives; want just bees, honey and money in combination with a minimum of work and

project. People from implementation agencies should only act in the background as facilitators; @

the integration of the rural micro industries in producing inputs is a must in case beekeeping equipment cannot be produced by beekeepers. Training of carpenters, blacksmiths, tailors, and potters should be part of any project;

simple and easy to handle technology with a minimum of maintenance should

risk; @

avoid spending money for any kind of inputs, they prefer to make their own hives or barter;

are individualists and risk minimisers who do not like to depend on others;

do not like to expose their hives to the public; are afraid of thieves and vandalism if hives are not hung in trees or carefully watched;

know that bees might become very aggressive and dangerous;

depend very much on social acceptance of what they do concerning beekeeping.

When top-bar hive projects started it was very soon recognised in most cases that the production of top-bar hives was only possible by carpenters with plenty of equipment. To profit from cost reduction when producing large numbers of hives, the manufacturing of hives was given to bigger companies normally in towns. To provide beekeepers with the necessary inputs, a ‘hive tourism’ and credit system had to be started: as most farmers have no means of buying and transporting hives, most hives are taken by project vehicles from the manufacturers to the beekeepers.

When a project was phased out credits were not repaid, revolving funds stopped working, new hives were not bought, and broken ones not repaired. In many cases termites put an end to the hives! A Bees for Development publication

dominate; @

locally available materials, also modern material liked by people as well as by bees (for example cement, plastic, metal, iron sheets), and suitable honey containers (recycled bottles, jars, plastic bags) should be integrated if input costs allow this;

hives must be installed where the bee pasture is best and where the bees like to live to guarantee high occupation rates, high yields and a minimum of absconding;

hive products (comb honey, bottle honey, wax, pollen) should first be used to satisfy the local market before other markets are addressed.

If these points are respected before and during project implementation, quite a significant

number of people may be encouraged to start beekeeping. In the beginning it is very important that people own bees and experience success in producing and selling honey. If they are convinced that beekeeping fits them, by and by they will become beekeepers and further redevelopment of techniques, management methods and the integration of environmental aspects will automatically follow.

ELEVEN

BEEKEEPING

DEVELOPMENT 48

ARMENIA Non-wood forest products generate 20% of the total revenue of the Forest Service in Armenia. In 1996 just over two tonnes of honey were harvested, generating 6.1% of the income gained from the main agricultural and non-wood forest products from the Forest Service. The largest source of income was from Christmas trees: 19.2% of total income. .

Source:

FAO Non-wood

News, 5, March 1998

BERMUDA The worst problem for the 25 members of the Bermuda Beekeepers’ Association is that every square metre of the island is used for hotel gardens, golf courses and the development of other tourist facilities. Randolph Furbert keeps many of his 400 Langstroth hives on Bermuda’s small islands. Other problems for the bees are ants and two predators, the bird Pitangus sulphuratus and the giant toad Bufo marinus.

JOHN KINROSS

There are two honey flows in the year. The autumn flow is the most productive and is based on the Brazilian pepper tree. Other forage includes banana and paw-paw, and fruit farmers are eager to have hives in their orchards.

Randolph Furbert's “best” hive, May 1998

Providing that nectar-producing forage is grown on the artificial landscapes the future looks bright for (so far) Varroa-free Bermuda. John Kinross

GHANA The Gwira Banso Project is a forestmanagement project that brings together three stake-holders in the timber industry: the farmers on whose lands the trees are harvested, the timber extraction company, and the timber products dealers from Denmark. The project operates within the timber conservation area for Ghana Primewood Products covering 16,600 hectares of land in the tropical rainforest of the western region. The project aims at developing new forms of sustainable natural resource management with active participation of local farmers. There are longterm plans to obtain continuous supplies of timber in addition to the production of nontimber forest products such as honey, beeswax, kola nuts and black pepper.

The project discourages the cultivation of cash crops such as cocoa where forest has been cleared, and encourages the planting of important timber tree species which on maturation are sold to the timber company by the farmers. This increases the farmers’ earnings per planted area. Shade-tolerant crops (kola nuts and black pepper) are

TWELVE

encouraged for intercropping with food crops including cassava, cocoyam and plantain. The farmers are happily being introduced to beekeeping. Many have always been honey hunters but agree on the need to conserve bees through beekeeping. The project co-ordinator, Eddie Prah says that the marketing of the farmers’ produce has been planned, and prompt payment will be made by the buyers. There are plans to build honey buying and processing centres within easy reach of the farmers. Kwame Aidoo,

B&D's

Correspondent in Ghana

KENYA Nyuki Newsletter This is the Bulletin of the National Beekeeping Station. It is an excellent publication full of news and information. Volume II, No 2 brings news of the revitalisation of the Kenya Beekeepers’ Association. The Editor of Nyuki

onan

me Be

no. > 1993

ene bee

Newsletter is

Mr J M Muruiki.

The Beekeeper's Guide Book ‘

het

sare or sou. NATIONAL BEEKEEPENG STATION

This book has been produced by the National Beekeeping Station as an informative, technical handbook on apiculture in Kenya. Available from:

National Beekeeping Station, Ministry of Livestock

Development, PO Box 34188, Nairobi, Kenya. A Bees for Development publication

BEEKEEPING & DEVELOPMENT 48

NOTICE BOARD ZAMBIA

THE WORLD

HUMAN RIGHTS To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Universal

For almost 34 years since the inclusion of beekeeping into the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources beekeeping was predominantly carried out by men, especially in the North Western Province of Zambia. Women were left out of the activities and customs and traditions prevented women starting beekeeping as a source of income.

Declaration of Human Rights, Amnesty International is collecting signatures for a pledge to support this Declaration.

Amnesty already has 3 million signatures world-wide, and wants 8 million (1% of the world’s

In the early 1990s in Kasempa District

TANZANIA FAIDERS, an NGO based in Biharamulo, organised a four day seminar in 1997 to discuss beekeeping using improved techniques and tools to produce good quality bee products in increased quantities, as well as enhancing environmental care. Twenty participants from six independent beekeeping groups were involved in the seminar.

Kamakechi Group was begun and attracted a great interest from the local women. But this group practised honey hunting, not beekeeping using bark hives or calabashes. The Group received training from a volunteer working at Kabompo Beekeeping Centre and remained active until funding support was reduced and the Group split up.

udhr50th@amnesty.org.au Put YOUR NAME in the SUBJECT and the following text in the

message: support the rights and freedoms in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for “I

In 1996-97 there was a thought to revive this Group and a follow-up was made, but in vain.

The market potential for bee products was discussed in detail. A local market exists on a small-scale but with improved techniques and outputs there will be a need for external markets. FAIDERS was charged to locate market possibilities and make contacts with traders.

Now however as part of the Area Development Programme (supported by IFAD) six groups have been formed with a total membership of 150 women. Funds from IFAD provided support for training programmes. The groups are still awaiting a follow-up to this initial

If you are interested please contact: Christian Byamungu, Secretary General, FAIDERS

Moses M Mulenga, District Beekeeping Officer,

c/o

population). Send an e-mail to:

all people, everywhere.”

BEEKEEPER PENFRIENDS Many of our members are interested to contact beekeepers in other countries. If you would like to correspond with us please contact:

training. Kasempa District

Mrs Alice Mason, Secretary, Katebwa Beekeepers’ Group, PO Box 230, Fort Portal, Uganda

Bees for Development

BEEKEEPING WORKSHOPS AND COURSES Send us full details of your meeting, and the anticipated number of participants, at least three months ahead of the date.

Bees for Development can

NICOLA BRADBEAR

support your event with information materials.

These women want to do beekeeping

A Bees for Development publication

THIRTEEN

BEEKEEPING & DEVELOPMENT 48

The beekeeper’s handbook

From where [ sit by Mark

L Winston with Eva Crane

171 pages. Paperback.

1998 Available from Bees for

USEFUL)

roa

Sammataro and Alnhance Avitahile with a

by Diana

BRD

a foreword by

fnreward hu

Roger Morse

Development price 14.00

1998 (third edition) - 140 pages. Paperback.

This book is a compilation of essays on bees, beekeeping and science which link the world of the bee ntist with the

Available from Bees for

keeper. Winston explains t there is an ligation for both rties to share eir knowledge as

BOOK.

Development

price 24.00

The new edition of this handbook (it was first published 20 years ago) has been totally updated to reflect how beekeeping as an art and as a science has reacted to changes in recent times. The book is designed for both beginners, and established beekeepers who require

hey ultimately rely n each other for

continued success. Mark Winston writes regularly in alan zine Bee Culture and the essays have been selected from his monthly column. The essays cover many subjects, a great amount of information about honeybees: the

problem of mites, Africanized bees, honey, to mention just a few; but also a wider spectrum of issues spanning nature, science, teaching and the role of scientists in society.

Honeybees of Africa by H R

Hepburn and S E Radloff

1998 - 370 pages. Hardback. Available from

Bees for Development price 70.00 Documented knowledge of the honeybees of Africa is very small compared with the information available on WP Ment SERadhotf honeybees of the northern hemisphere.

This textbook begins closing the gap. The eleven chapters provide an academic insight into the honeybees of Africa including: biogeographical perspectives; classification; bee flora; population dynamics; behaviour; and seasonal cycles.

FOURTEEN

“™.

{

ébyROGER A. MGRSE Dara Sammatare

"Sr

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and Jan P-oost

guidance through the many complicated tasks of beekeeping with frame hives. The activities of the colony, hive products, pollination and bee plants, and special management problems are covered.

Farmer to farmer extension: lessons from the field by Daniel Selener, Jacqueline Chenier and Ratl Zelaya 1997 - 140 pages. Paperback. Available from Bees for Development price 15.00

Many development organisations use ‘farmer promoters’. These are the people who work in rural communities as extension workers. They usually have little or no formal education, but through training and practice increase their knowledge and become good a sharing it with others. The farmer promoter’s role is to stimulate

Part One of this book discusses every aspect of achieving extension by means of farmer promoters. Recommendations are given towards optimising their work. Part

Two describes five case studies, showing the variety of ways in which farmer-tofarmer methodology can work.

This is a very readable book. It gives excellent summaries of positive and negative aspects of the various ways to involve farmer promoters.

DIANA SAMMATARO wo ALPHONSE AVITABILE >)

rural development. They may be working full time, part time, paid or as volunteers.

Unlocking trade opportunities Nick Robins and Sarah Roberts edited by

1997 - 64 pages. Paperback. Available free of charge from: Erik Brandsma, UN Department

of Policy Co-ordination and Sustainable Development, Room DC2-22286, 2 UN Plaza, United Nations, New York 10017, USA

The book describes case studies of export success from developing countries. Environmental policy and awareness in

developed countries have created export opportunities for developing countries that are environmentally sound, create additional income and strengthen communities.

Case studies explore manufactured products (textiles and refrigerators), agricultural commodities (coffee, cotton and fruit) and forest products (timber and non-timber products.

A Bees for Development publication

BEEKEEPING

Cycle biologique et orientation de

Honey

l’acarien Varroa (Life cvcle and orientation of the Varroa mite)

SHELF

Available from

Bees for Development price 20.00

The researchers have found that Varroa orientates itself in brood cells through the detection of scents. Ultimately the aim of the work underway at the Institute is to provide beekeepers with a biological method of control against Varroa.

6 Av St Mandé, 75012 Paris, France.

MAIL ORDER

FF plus postage.

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Mankind has been managing temperate zone forests for nearly five centuries. The sustainable management of tropical rainforests is much a a newer concept. This of Tropical Rainforests book outlines the problems concerned with managing rainforests - their technical, social and human environments and proposes an initial, a

practicable management system: how to plan it and how to implement it.

The INASP directory of organisations and networks in rural development: Africa

development located in the South. The main focus is on Africa.

1998

Ones

An order form is printed in Books to Buy. Or you can send us a note of what you want. We accept orders on e-mail and through our World Wide Web site.

Please send payment with your order. For large orders we can issue a invoice in sterling or USS.

pro forma

Bees for Development

services include specialised knowledge and advice on the publications that are available. We can help you select books to provide an excellent beekeeping library.

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1998 - 229 pages. Ring-bound paperback. Available free of charge to addresses in developing countries (10

including airmail postage and packing

Section at the Liebefeld Institute in Switzerland. Gérard Donzé and Matthias Rickli have extensively studied the reproduction of the mite in the brood cells of honeybees. Their research results have been compiled into this useful documentary.

Catinot

SHEL

«2

A great deal of research has been carried out on Varroa jacobsoni by the Beekeeping

1997 - 100 pages. Paperback. English and French editions. Available from: ATIBT, Price 100

DEVELOPMENT 48

1997 - VHS PAL. Running time 25 minutes. French and German commentary versions.

The sustainable management of tropical rainforests by René

| DEO

POST Bees for Development, Troy, Monmouth, NP9> 4AB, United Kingdom E-MAIL busy@planbee.org.uk WORLD WIDE WEB hitp://www.planbee.org.uk

IRY ND

BEVWORKS IN ° RURAL AFRICA

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Gest Oe

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feat fer

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FIFTEEN

REMEMBER TO MENTION Beekeeping

& Development WHEN

RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS

PARTIES Cos

Relative government ministries and

under the auspices of the Apimondia Standing Commission for Beekeeping for Rural Development

co-hosted by Tobago Apicultural Society Tobago House of Assembly

17-20 NOVEMBER 1998 Mount Irvine, Tobago Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, West Indies

administrations UNO agencies and the European Community NGO specializing in rural development Public and private agricultural establishments Beekeeping co-operatives, companies or

individuals

Training institutes, manufacturers, etc

ACTREPEES Feasibility studies, project supervision and evaluation

e Comprehensive supervision of beekeeping development plans

e e

Market studies, technological know-how Help in establishing co-operatives, laboratories, extraction and processing plants, queen rearing, mating or instrumental insemination stations Creation of software, audio-visual material, promotional material or press articles, seminars, translations, etc... Testing of new equipment and technologies A la carte training

Further information from:

Caribbean Beekeeping Congress, c/o Technical Support Unit, Level 2, NiB Mall, Scarborough, Tobago, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies Fax: + 868 639 4464 Email: caribees@tstt.net.tt

,‘

“Le Terrier”, F-24420 Coulaures - France Email : apiservices@compuserve.com

(beekeeping and/or computer) NEW

SERVICE Web sites - Creation and -

hosting services “Virtual Beekeeping Gallery”

OFFICIAL SPONSORS US National Honey Board

Apistan Dadant & Sons Bee Maid Honey and Western Wax Works

Medivet Pharmaceuticals

Simon Fraser University

Internet : www.apiservices.com Phone : +33 5.53.05.91.13 Mobile : +33 6.07.68.49.39 Fax : +33 5.53.05.44.57

Congress Theme: Beekeeping in the New Millennium Venue: The Vancouver Trade and Convention Ceritre Congress sessions will be highlighted by presentations from invited guests world renowned for their knowledge of apiculture

Canadian Farm Business Management Council/ Conseil Canadien de la

information from:

gestion d'enterprise agricole

c/o Venue West Conference Services #645-375

Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada/ Agriculture and Agrifood Canada Arataki Honey Ltd

Apimondia '99 Water Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 5C6 CANADA Fax: (+1) 604 681 2503

Apimondia '99 Website: http:/Avww.apimondia99.ca

& Development is published quarterly by Bees for Development, Troy, Monmouth, NP5 4AB, United Kingdom Telephone +44 (0)16007 13648 Fax +44 (0)16007 16167 E-mail busy@planbee.org.uk World Wide Web http:/Avww.planbee.org.uk Bees for Development 1998 Environmentally friendly paper ISSN 1369 9555 Beekeeping

Bees for Development Journal Edition 48 - September 1998

Articles inside

Bookshelf

Notice board

News

Sustainable Beekeeping Development

Trees bees use - Melaleuca leucadendron

Papua New Guinea

Successful pollination of apples

What's on

How Apis cerana keeps Varroa in check

Garbage Power! Organic Batteries

In Issue 48