Beekeeping & Development 59
NES AROUN INDIA
COSTA RICA
The Regional Programme for the Keeping of Honeybees and Stingless Bees (PRAM)
Workshop on reviving beekeeping in the Western Ghats
has evolved since 1990 through work between the National University of Costa
The tropical forests of the Western Ghats in Karnataka are among the 18 bio-diversity hotspots in the world. The plant and floral diversity has evolved along with the diversity of bees in this region. There are three main types of indigenous
Rica and the Bee Research Department at Utrecht University in The Netherlands. Following the arrival of African bees in Costa Rica the incidence of bee diseases increased due to the importation of queens from countries where these diseases
frequently occur. PRAM is now teaching beekeepers how to manage their colonies to prevent diseases, and how to treat infected hives. There will also be better control over the products that are used to treat bees for disease. This is major a
objective of the National Bee Health Programme in co-operation with the apiary inspectors of the Ministry of Agriculture. Source:
PRAM Report 1999-2000
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KENYA Around the slopes of Mount Kenya the number of livestock and hives you own
determines social status.
If
you do not own
a hive you cannot borrow honey even for
medicinal purposes (you are not considered man enough to face the bee sting: beekeeping is traditionally a male
occupation). For this reason a prospective beekeeper set up two top-bar hives directly behind his house. The hives were soon occupied, but the bees attacked his wife and daughters.
honey producing bees: Apis cerana, Apis dorsata and Trigona sp. For the past 50 years there has been a systematic effort to domesticate beekeeping with Apis cerana and Trigona bees. The rock or giant honeybee Apis dorsata is found in the forests and mountains and migrates long distances. Honey hunters harvest from both Apis cerana and Apis dorsata.
Traditional beekeeping with Apis cerana is in logs and earthen pots. Beekeeping with boxes started in 1929. Coorg became famous for its honey that was in great demand due its special taste and quality.
Since 1979 there has been a gradual decline in beekeeping. To assess the beekeeping status in the region and initiate steps to revive it, two-day workshop was organised in March 2001. The problems faced by the beekeepers were discussed and they confirmed that since its arrival in 1992, Thai Sacbrood Virus (TSBV) has been the main reason for the decline in beekeeping. Many farmers have tried indigenous plant based medicines, but these have been ineffective. Beekeeper Sri N V Sharma reported that he has developed a herbal medicine that successfully controls TSBV. During the workshop one group visited young beekeeper Dharmendra. He has 30 Apis cerana colonies and two Apis mellifera colonies. He also has experience of harvesting Apis dorsata colonies. Dharmendra invented his own ingenious method of controlling TSBV. He collects Apis cerana colonies from the plains that have resistance to TSBV and are a different strain from those in the hilly region. The second group visited Beekeeper Venkatramana. He had 10 colonies but has lost nine to TSBV, and the remaining colony is infected. TSBV is in decline, but from time to time cases appear and destroy colonies.
Determined to keep both hives and family
Apis mellifera the solution?
response to the spread of TSBV, Apis mellifera has been introduced into the area. It was claimed that Apis mellifera is
resistant to TSBV and would produce more honey. Beekeepers at the workshop observed its introduction has been a failure because: e It is slow and not adapted to tropical conditions, falling prey to birds and predators.
e
attacked early in the morning, either irritated or excited by the perfumes in the
cosmetics and soaps his family used. He applied the same cosmetics to his hives
e It is susceptible to mites and needs
constant medication. e Hives are bigger, consuming more wood,
increasing the fixed cost per hive, and the cost of purchasing the imported colony is high. e Expensive sugar feeding is required in the
rainy season when the bees will not fly. Often a new Apis mellifera queen takes a long time to mate or does not mate. e
The taste of the honey is considered bland in comparison to ‘local’ honey (medicine men prefer honey from Apis cerana).
Mogens Jensen from Denmark said that it is difficult to Keep Apis mellifera in the Western Ghats. Dr M S Reddy from the Beekeeping Department said Apis mellifera beekeeping can only succeed by regular migration to areas where forage is available. There was heated debate on whether Apis mellifera should be introduced further. The majority of the participants were against this, concerned that it might lead to the importation of diseases, for example foulbrood. Most honey on the Indian market is harvested from Apis dorsata. A session was held with the participating honey hunters to understand ways towards sustainable harvesting from giant honeybees. Tarak Kate, from the NGO Dharamitra
showed how sustainable harvesting is possible by removing only part of the honeycomb, which causes minimum damage to bees and allows for further harvests from the colony.
Pandurang Hegde, Save Honeybees Campaign, Karnataka, Didia
twice a day for three days. After a week the bees stopped their attacks when the
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familiar scent no longer bothered them.
Nyuki Newsletter
A Bees for Development publication
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The colony does not develop from October to March.
Pratim Roy from The Keystone Foundation explained harvesting Apis dorsata colonies in the Nilgiris Hills in Tamil Nadu. He shared his experience of honey processing and marketing which helps honey hunters obtain better prices. All the participants appreciated the video presentation on honey hunters*.
the bees only attacked the ladies! After two days of scrutiny he concluded that the bees
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e It does not forage on local plants, especially in the hilly region.
a
he tried to find out what was going on as
Source:
Is In
You too can enjoy this video: see Bookshelf page 13 for a review of Keystone’s excellent video
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