THE BASIS FOR SUCCESS
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IN
BEEKEEPII Peter Paterson from Kenya presented this paper at the Seminar ‘The role of beekeeping in development programmes’ organised jointly by Bees for Development and the Tropical Agriculture Association in April 2000
TECHNOLOGY AND ECONOMICS
and materials found throughout most of the tropics and formerly also in Europe and America.
As long as the volume of a bee hive is adequate, hive design will not influence honey production. Good hive design will make management possible and easier for beekeeper.
ii. Movable-comb hives
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These are the top-bar hives, where bees build their comb attached to a top-bar that can be lifted out of the hive.
A movable-comb or movable-frame hive enables detailed hive inspection, colony division or selective breeding and queen rearing, as well as providing for ease of honey removal. In frame
iii. Movable-frame hives The frame hive is used world-wide in largescale commercial beekeeping. The Langsti is the original and most widely used but there are countless variations, some are good and some are atrocious. Choice of hive technology should be based on the cost and ease of
hives, the movable frames allow mechanical honey extraction and return of extracted combs to the hive. In the absence of management,
hive design will not alter honey yield. Bee hive technology may be divided into
three types:
production and availability in relation to local honey potential and cash return. These vary according to geographical location and temperament of both bees and beekeeper.
i. Fixed comb hives These include cylindrical bark and log hives and various other hives of many different forms
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RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HIVE TECHNOLOGY, SITUATION AND POTENTIAL RETURNS Technology
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Fixed comb hive Fixed comb hive
European bee in temperate region |
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Top-bar hive '
Top-bar hive |
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African bee in tropical region
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European bee in temperate region
African bee in tropical region
Poor
Relatively to very good
,
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Fairly good Fairly good
Honey/cash return Poor
Relatively to very good Fairly good
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Fairly good
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Frame hive .
Frame hive
Hive cost and ease of production
Type of bee and area
European bee in temperate region
Good
Good
African bee in tropical region
Possible
Fair
DEAR FRIENDS...
We bring you 16 pages bursting with fresh news of beekeeping. If you want evidence of how beekeeping can strengthen people’s livelihoods, then read two items in News around the World: Action for Development in Ethiopia and the report from Tecla David of Mozambique. Many beekeepers are now travelling world-wide and Nepal is one of the most popular destinations. Many ask us for information on beekeeping in Nepal. On page six Otto Boecking and Wolfgang Ritter give a report of the honeybee disease situation in Nepal, that also reflects on the impact of the introduction of exotic Apis mellifera. Starting on this page Peter Paterson gives an excellent review of the pros and cons of traditional hives, top-bar hives and movable-frame hives. On page ten, a new way of getting information to the people that most need it is discussed. See Look Ahead for the new dates for Apimondia 2001; Zoom into the Philippines; Grow some loofahs; Learn about a Belgian organisation that has been fair trading in honey for 20 years; and finally, sit back and consider a beekeeping trip to Mars.
Bees for Development has plenty of views to share!
Nicola Bradbear
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