Zoom in on Madagascar

The island of Madagascar has an area of 582,000 km² and a human population of 12.8 million, 80% of whom live in rural areas.

CLIMATE

Tropical, with a wide range of regional to altitude and exposure to prevailing winds.

VEGETATION

The country has diverse forestation (dense humid dry bush formations), secondary bush formations (Savoka), savannah, steppes, mangrove swamps and areas of reforestation. Subsistence crops include fruit trees, groundnut, maize, manioc, rice and various legumes. Cash crops are cocoa, coffee, cotton, sugar can and sunflowers.

BEES

Apis mellifera unicolor is widespread on the island and also in the Mascarines (Mauritius and Reunion Island)

BEEKEEPING

Most beekeeping is with local-style hives. Top-bar hives have become popular in various areas of Madagascar as Ambositra (high plateaux) and Mananara Nord on the east coast.

NUMBER OF BEEKEEPERS

One hundred beekeepers'' groups and associations joined to a national federation.

AVERAGE PRODUCTION

Between 7 and 10 kg honey are harvested per number of harvests varies with the food sources available to the bees.

MELLIFEROUS FLORA

Primary forest sources are numerous and give an assortment of honey: Da/bergia sp, Homalium sp, Rhus sp, and Weinmannia sp. Secondary sources include Macarenga sp, Psiadia altissima and Ziziphus sp. Trees and cultivated shrubs: Cocos nucifera, Coffea sp and Nephelium litchi.

HONEYBEE DISEASES AND PESTS

No serious diseases or major predators are apparent, although Nosema and Varroa sp were both strongly indicated in August 1998.

PROJECTS

In 1986 FAO (the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN) funded a 12-month project for apiculture development to increase honey production. The apiculture project currently underway in the Biosphere of Mananara Nord is described right.

SECTOR SUPPORT

Apiculture

Dr Gabrielle Andriantsafara Divisional Head of ApicultureBee Breeding Centre, Ampandrianomby

Bee behaviour and study of melliferous plants

Dr Z Ramamonjisoa Ralataharisoa, Botanical Laboratory, Science Faculty, BP 906 Antananarivo

APICULTURE IN THE BIOSPHERE OF MANANARA NORD RESERVATION

This Reservation of 140,000 ha is situated on the east coast of Madagascar. The climate is humid and tropica! and the Reservation represents an important example of humid forest. Many kinds of lemurs live here, notably the Aye-aye (Daubetonia madagascariensis).

Honey is collected by honey gatherers and also by beekeepers using traditional hives. Honey gathering can be a problem if the hunters cut down 100 year old trees to harvest the honey. In local beekeeping the hives are made from the hollow trunks of the Traveller’s tree Ravenala madagascariensis, or from giant bamboo canes. Swarms of Apis mellifera unicolor are abundant. Annual production is 2-5 litres of honey per hive, according to the time of harvest. Harvesting takes place between November and March.

Honey is eaten in the home or sold. Price per litre ranges from 2500-5000 Fr mg (US$ 0.5-1) depending on the season. Bush traders take charge of honey collection and it is sent to Tamatave, the administrativecentre of the Province. Research carried out among focal people, and pollen analysis of the honey, reveals abundant nectar sources: cultivated species (beans, cocoa, coffee and lychee), naturally occurring species Mimosa pudica and Scopsaria dulcis, and forest species including Ochrocarpos sp and Weinmannia sp. Wax is rarely saved.

As honey collection is one of the causes of pressure on the park and bordering forests, the apiculture project has decided that popularising a better model of beekeeping could prove a beneficial alternative. This involves teaching the techniques for producing honey on site so that dependence on collecting honey from the forests may be avoided. Project leaders have given training to include swarm collection through to honey extraction and the construction of improved hives. The Langstroth hive has been promoted since 1990 to achieve a better harvest and to make the harvesting process easier. Over 200 field workers who own between one and five hives are beginning to use this hive, producing an average of 10 litres of honey per hive. The project research station is based at Antanambe and has a centre for teaching and demonstrating beekeeping techniques.

Thanks to Ramamonjisoa Ralalaharisoa for providing this information and illustrations, and to Sue Platt for translation.