Bees for Development Journal Edition 68 - September 2003 by Bees for Development

bees FOR DEVELOPMENT JOURNAL

Inside this issue:

Zoom in to Slovakia Project News Make a top -bar hive Trees Bees Use News around the World JOURNAL 68 SEPTEMBER 2003

inside information

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Several common threads run through this edition of Bees for Development Journal. News of the continuing damage caused by human's spread of bee parasites and predators comes from Zimbabwe, where Varroa, the parasitic mite of honeybees, has arrived and is causing havoc for beekeepers. In Pakistan too, the widespread loss of bees due to Varroa is now reported (page 12). In Nepal (page 6), Tanzania (page 12) and Zimbabwe (page 13), there have been meetings of beekeeping industry stakeholders, expressing the same concern in each country, that beekeepers need a stronger voice and better institutional support. Beekeeping is a small-scale activity, but it is very widely spread. It is often the poorest of the poor, living in the Earth's remote and isolated places, who produce honey as their only cash crop. This means that the beekeeping sector can be difficult to service, and these remote people are the last to benefit from resources such as training, credit and access to markets. Beekeepers can help themselves by forming strong, functional groups, and it is very good to see these projects (ICIMOD in Nepal, Heifer International in Tanzania and ITDG in Zimbabwe) taking the initiative to help beekeepers get organised and lobby on behalf of their industry. Zooming in features Slovakia where, as in all other European countries, the number of beekeepers is declining. In western countries, the high labour costs associated with beekeeping continue to increase as new pests and diseases of bees arrive, making small-scale beekeeping less viable in these countries where labour costs are high. This opens the market doors to beekeepers in poorer countries as long as they are well informed, and can be mobilised to take advantage of the situation.

Inside Information Editor Nicola Bradbear PhD Co-ordinator Helen Jackson BSc Bees for Development Journal is published quarterly by Bees for Development and has readers in over 130 countries. Subscription One year's subscription (four editions) for BfD Journal costs UK£20 (€30, US$30) including airmail delivery. If you are financially able to do so, you must pay the annual subscription. If you cannot pay your subscription, then write to us and we will strive to help you. Ways to pay are shown on page 15. Generous discounts are available for multiple subscriptions of ten or more. You may also subscribe through our website store, and choose to download BfD Journal if you wish. Readers in developing countries may pay their subscriptions by Beeswax Barter or Candle Currency. Details on page 16 of BfDJ 67 and News and Announcements Message Board at www.beesfordevelopment.org/forums.shtml

Copyright If you reproduce items we publish, please acknowledge BfD Journal, provide our contact details in full, and send us a copy of the item. Sponsorship We acknowledge recent support from V Kann Rasmussen Foundation, and all the individuals, beekeeping associations and groups that support us. Bees for Development Trust is a UK registered Charity (Number 1078803) raising funds to provide information to beekeepers in developing countries. For readers living in remote areas and with few resources, BfD Journal is often the only source of beekeeping news and information. Financial support to sponsor subscriptions is needed: please assist if you can. You can make a donation to the Trust: z by credit card through our secure website z by cheque or CAF cheque z by bank transfer Bank details: Bees for Development Trust (Account 85299 Code 40-52-40) at CafCash Ltd. UK tax payers: please use Gift Aid if you are eligible. We can send you a form, or download one at www.beesfordevelopment.org/trust.

in this issue... Inside information.....................2 Practical beekeeping .................3 Trees Bees Use..........................5 Project news from ICIMOD........6 Zoom in on Slovakia ................8 Look and Learn Ahead............10 Notice Board ..........................10 News around the World ..........11 Book Shelf..............................14

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PRACTICAL BEEKEEPING

Better beekeeping in top-bar hives: hives and hive making Pam Gregory, UK As I have said in BfDJ 66 and BfDJ 67 bees do not really mind where they live as long as it is safe and dry. The hive is for the beekeeper's convenience and profit. There are three basic choices - the local style (fixed comb) hive, the topbar (or movable-comb) hive and the movable-frame hive.

Beekeepers should be able to make their own hives from materials that are cheap and easily available locally, especially where beekeepers do not have access to factory-made consumer goods including hives. The simpler a hive is to make, the more people will be able to take part in beekeeping, even if they have very little money. This is one reason why top-bar hives are so useful. They are easy to

F 44.5

E A 30.5

80-100 cm Note: Length = topbar number x top-bar width

C 2

44.5

D A

A side B back

C entrances: (each entry hole 0.8 cm wide) D floor/veranda E top-bar (27 pieces)

make and yet still give all the advantages. Increasingly I meet beekeepers in the UK who are trying out top-bar hives (after they have seen them used in other countries) because they are interesting to make and experiment with. Also top-bar hives are more comfortable to work with than frame hives, and with less lifting involved, fewer back problems arise.

The most important reason for making your own hives is to maintain independence. You do not have to wait for other people to provide hives, grants or loans that have to be paid back even if the honey crop fails. Making hives gives a person the freedom to get started in beekeeping or to expand the beekeeping business at her/his own pace as both skill and money allow. If you can build your own hives as cheaply as possible from local materials you can build more hives for your money: this is a major benefit of local beekeeping methods. Top-bar hive designs and standards

F roof

Exact plan of a top-bar hive (Cameroon standard) with measurements in centimetres 3

practical beekeeping

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There is a confusing variety of top-bar hive standards and designs. This is hardly surprising given how much beekeepers like to experiment and innovate. There are also many variations on Langstroth's original frame hive, which is reputedly based on the dimensions of the champagne crate from which he built the first hive. People will have a new idea and encourage others to follow it, which means people can have strong views about hives. They may tell you that only their way is right and all other ways are wrong - avoid these beekeepers for their experience is limited. A new approach might indeed have some improved features or it may be worse than the old way; it may not offer enough advantages or not be successful in your circumstances. Unless you are very experienced it can be difficult to decide what will be best. People can find all this very confusing, especially when they are just starting out in beekeeping. If you come to hive design with an understanding of the underlying ideas, then you are better informed how to choose what will suit you. There are a number of things to remember:

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z z

PRACTICAL BEEKEEPING

Hives are for the convenience of the beekeeper - think what you need to do and choose accordingly. Your choices should be based on the best methods for you. Honey harvesting is easier using topbar hives and this is more likely to preserve the colony for the future. New management methods can be undertaken with top-bar hives that may give advantage. Standardisation of hive width is important if you wish to transfer combs or top-bars between hives. Top-bar width is important to encourage bees to build one comb on one top-bar: otherwise you may as well use a fixed comb hive. You will have problems transferring comb from a straight sided top-bar hive into a sloping sided top-bar hive. Frame hive beekeeping is often more complicated than necessary for many places. Beekeeping may be profitable but it should also be pleasurable, so choose a method you feel you will enjoy - you might even want to compare several methods.

but I am not sure the bees would like them because of the problems they would have with heat build up and condensation. A good way of finding out what materials might be suitable for topbar hives is to look at the materials that are being used in local hives and see if it is possible to adapt these. I have seen many ideas including basket hives and hives made out of strips of material. These are used after plastering with mud and/or cow dung, in the same way that houses are made. An excellent compromise is to use strips of material

such as bamboo or straight sticks to make the hive sides (or panels), attached to the front and back gables made from scrap timber. The 'wood' that comes from the leaf bases of the raffia palm Raphia farinifera is used to make strips of material for hive sides in many parts of tropical Africa but where this plant is not common there will be other choices. I have tried split sisal poles Agave sisalana, woven floor matting, wooden off-cuts and various types of bamboo both split and round while, in the UK, hazel sticks have proved very effective. © Pam Gregory

Materials The materials used to build a hive affect the cost and the length of time it will last, and the beekeeper needs to think what he/she wants from the hive. A perfect hive that lasts a lifetime is wonderful, but if you cannot afford this then a cheaper hive that will make money now and allow investment in the future may be a better option. Normally top-bar hives are built from wood. While this is an excellent material, I have some reservations about its use. The most important is that modern top-bar beekeeping techniques are about encouraging sustainable development. It may not be sustainable to cut a large tree in order to get hive materials. At worst, this can exacerbate deforestation and encourage erosion; at best it uses prime wood that might be better used in other ways. In many places beekeepers are already finding that trees suitable for bark or log hives are becoming scarcer. It is probably best that good wood is used for the most valuable activities maybe furniture for the house or to sell to raise cash while hives are made of cheaper stuff. In some cases it seems that neatly made, all wooden hives encourage hive theft - they make excellent tables or storage trunks. There are always other materials that can be used to make hives. I have seen it suggested to use materials such as polystyrene and corrugated plastic. I have no personal experience of these and assume they would be very durable,

Raffia palm top-bar hive in Cameroon. Hives made this way must be plastered before use to fill up the gaps between the strips of wood or basketwork. It is essential to fill up all the gaps or the bees will have too many entrances or, worse, pests such as ants and hive beetles will be able to enter.

A top-bar hive with walls made from split bamboo 4

TREES BEES USE

Trees Bees Use Antigonon leptopus - Coral Creeper S Sadakathulla, R Rajendran, R Mohan and S M Jalaluddin, India

Apicultural value: Antigonon leptopus is a good source of both pollen and nectar for bees. Names: Coralita, Confederate vine Family: Polygonaceae

Description: Not a tree, but a climbing plant, indigenous to South America, but now found throughout the tropics.

Flowers: White, pink and red flowers in copious racemes which terminate with tendrils in all the terminal shoots of the branches of the creeper. Flowering: early summer to late autumn and throughout the year in some areas. In each florescence a mean of 41.6% of open flowers are seen at any time.

Uses: Coral creeper is used in hedges and fences, and for bowers and thatch to cover the roofs of sheds and houses. The attractive white and pink flowers are widely used in flower displays. Notes: In Tamil Nadu, India, the major visitor to Antigonon leptopus is the Asian hive bee Apis cerana (78%), with the little bee Apis florea and the dammer (stingless) bee, Melipona iridipennis at 10% and 3% respectively. Also, a few Diptera (flies) can be found early in the morning between 0730-0830 hours. © S Sadakathulla

(left) Antigonon leptopus

What plants do your bees use? Why not send in the information? Address on page 2

BEEKEEPERS' SAFARIS Friendly holidays run in co-operation with overseas partners as part of Bees for Development's work to raise awareness of beekeeping in development. Tobago and Trinidad: 8-17 March 2004

Beekeeping Equipment Hives for Pollination Protective Clothing Honey Extractors - Manual/Motorised Motor Conversions Honey Filtration and Processing Equipment Bayvarol Varroa Treatment Advice and Recommendations

South India: dates to be confirmed More details from the address on page 2 and on our website

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Guyana will host the 4th Caribbean Beekeeping Congress in 2004.

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trees bees use

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PROJECT NEWS

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Project News Information from ICIMOD Farooq Ahmad, Surendra Joshi and Min Gurung

Grassroots sharing through networking Here we bring you another article with news about the work of the Austrian Government funded beekeeping project at ICIMOD in Kathmandu, Nepal. In BfDJ 67 we described the activities of a local NGO, BEENPRO in Kaski. In this issue we bring you news about ApiNet, the network set up for bee people across Nepal. The beekeeping community in Nepal has a rich store of practical knowledge and information derived from indigenous beekeeping practices, but until now there has been no easy mechanism for sharing outside neighbourhood groups. ICIMOD's beekeeping project recognised early on how much beekeepers and traders could benefit from more widespread exchange of information, experiences and development of linkages, and that this would also benefit

the conservation of indigenous bees. The project team worked with various individuals and organisations involved in beekeeping development and bee conservation through discussions, sharing, more than a dozen selective gatherings, and two countrywide meetings, in a process that led to the creation of the Apiculturists Network Nepal, now ApiNet-Nepal for short. The Network was registered in late 2002. At its first major Workshop held in May 2003, the Network brought together beekeepers, honey hunters, traders and development professionals from all over the country to discuss issues related to honeybees, conservation, blossoms, honey and honey markets. Eighty-eight participants representing 60 of Nepal's 75 districts gathered together, supported by ICIMOD's honeybee project team, to share information and experiences. The Acting President of the Federation of the Nepal Chambers of Commerce and

Industry inaugurated the meeting and the Director General of Agriculture and members of his team represented the government. The inaugural speeches covered a range of topics; in particular presenters stressed the need to evolve honey standards in line with the Codex Alimentarius to facilitate export. ICIMOD's Director of Programmes offered the Centre's assistance to the Nepalese Government and ApiNet in developing a framework of policies conducive to the beekeeping industry, trade, and export. Workshop themes z To expand the knowledge and understanding of beekeeping in Nepal with special emphasis on indigenous honeybee species and prevalent bee business practices. z To explore the population patterns of the honeybee species, their productivity and honey marketing trends.

Congratulations Congratulations to Dr Joshi who has received 'The Crown Prince Youth Science and Technology Award' from the Royal Nepal Academy of Science and Technology for his PhD research. This type of Award is presented to a maximum of five people working in various scientific disciplines every year. (Left) Dr Surendra Joshi (in striped shirt) with beekeeping villagers in Alital, West Nepal. Other ICIMOD team members pictured here are Mr Chet Raj Bhatta, standing fourth from right, and on his right, Mr Satananda Upadhaya.

ICIMOD is the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, an international organisation devoted to the development of the Hindu Kush Himalaya region. ICIMOD is located in Kathmandu, Nepal. Read more at www.icimod.org.np

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APINET-NEPAL National Workshop 2003 Gopal Prasad Kafle and Mahalaxmi Shrestha, ApiNet-Nepal

Sharing knowledge among beekeepers © Apinet-Nepal

Lighting the lamp, Mr Binod Shrestha, Acting President of the Federation of the Nepal Chambers of Commerce and Industry opens the Workshop.

The detailed local knowledge of ApiNet members has already proved useful in substantiating something for which there was previously only anecdotal evidence: the exotic bee Apis mellifera is not suited to the hill regions of Nepal, but thrives in the plains areas (see table right). Most of the colonies known to have been introduced in mid and high hill districts have either disappeared or the numbers have fallen dramatically, whereas in the plains districts the number of colonies has increased up to 300 fold over ten years. These findings support the recommendations of conservation apiculturists for a zonation arrangement in the Himalayas - with promotion of indigenous Apis cerana in the hills and mountains, and restriction of Apis

mellifera to plains areas, where there is transport infrastructure and monocultural cropping. A small cross-check of the information by the project team in

ApiNet Executive Mr Gopal Prasad Kafle Mr A N Shukla Mrs Mahalaxmi Shrestha Mr Bhushanas Shrestha Mr Dev Bdr Gurung Mr Khem Ray Naupane Mr Tej Bdr Bhandari Mr Karma Budha Mr Pawan Kumar Satayal Mr Chet Raj Bhatta

President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Member Member Member Member Member Member

Chitwan showed that the beekeepers in this area were indeed harvesting about 80 tonnes of honey per year from Apis mellifera.

Changes in the number of Apis mellifera colonies in hill and plains districts in Nepal Year of Apis mellifera introduction

Number of colonies at first introduction

Number of colonies in 2002/3

Hill districts Doti

1995

None

Dadeldhura

2000

None

Baitadi

1999 - 2002

111

Syangja

2000

None

Pyuthan

1999 - 2000

3 2000

Plains districts Chitwan

1994

Dang

1998

100

700

Rupandehi

1996

700

1994

1200

2000 - 2002

113

172

Nawalparasi Kailali

Source: ApiNet participants from the districts

Distribution of Apis mellifera

Workshop activities z To gather bee farmers and bee professionals, organisations, experts and scientists and other stake holders in a common forum to mobilise them for interaction. z To collect species population information from attending ApiNet members. z To collect species specific production and honey marketing trends. z To convene an AGM of ApiNet-Nepal and form an executive committee.

ZOOM IN ON SLOVAKIA

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EUROPE

ZOOM IN ON

SLOVAKIA Good conditions Rich sources of bee forage allow efficient beekeeping in most areas of the country. The landscape in Slovakia is rugged lowlands, hills and high mountain ranges lie close to each other. Therefore Slovak honeys are usually mixed. In the southern part of Slovakia in the early spring beekeepers determine the survival of wintered colonies and observe their spring growth rates. These are dependent upon important early nectar and pollen sources, including fruit trees and willows and oilseed rape. At the end of this initial season Acacia is in bloom and during the summer, clover, seed crops and sunflower provide pollen and nectar.

This race is indigenous and popular for its good wintering, quick spring growth and calmness. Importation of other races of honeybees is not allowed. In Slovakia there are five breeding and 30 multiplication stations, that produced 9,000 queens in 2002. These queens belong mostly to eight Slovakian lines of Carniolan bee, although the effects of importation of some Austrian Carniolan lines have been visible in recent years. By appropriate selection and breeding, bee-breeders select colonies that are less inclined to

In northern Slovakia coniferous honeydew is found, especially on spruce and fir. This is the principal bee forage in the highlands and mountains of Slovakia. Other nectar sources in these places include bilberries, meadow flowers and raspberries, all of which are hardy in the cooler climate. Dark honeys produced from forest fir and spruce are of outstanding quality and are much sought by international markets. Honeybees The most significant race of honeybees is the Carniolan bee Apis mellifera carnica.

SLOVAKIA Capital city: Bratislava Slovakia was constituted on 1st January 1993 as a new independent nation, following the dissolution of the 74 year old federal government of Czechoslovakia. Since November 1989, when massive folk movement smashed the communist dictatorship in Czechoslovakia, the country has returned to a parliamentary democracy with a liberal trade economy. Population: Less than 5.5 million Size: 49,032 km2 Climate: Moderate; even during a hard winter in the mountainous regions the limits are bearable for beekeeping. Generally, spring arrives in early March and the sunny autumn extends until the end of October.

Honeys vary from light acacia to dark honeydew

swarm and to show resistance to Varroa. Unfortunately many beekeepers misunderstand the role of high quality queens and raise their own, instead of purchasing from breeders. Bee products The long-term annual Slovakian honey yield is 12-15 kg per colony; however, top yields can surpass 80 kg per colony. Honey is used by the beekeepers themselves, sold directly to consumers, or purchased by a number of companies and exported, mostly to EU countries. 1,500-2,000 tonnes is exported annually, representing 1/3 -1/2 of the total annual yield. The greatest demand is for honeydew and unifloral honeys. Consumption of honey in Slovakia is just 0.25 kg per capita, with many people using it only for sweetening tea and to prevent colds, flu and other diseases. At Christmas, honey is an essential item on every table. Honey is marketed in a variety of packages: cakes and gingerbread, cereal bars, honey-filled chocolate, nuts with honey, sweets, and sweetened drinks, with mead increasingly

Honeybee breeding station in Rozhanovce 8

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popular. Attractively decorated honey pastries of various shapes can be seen at exhibitions. Venom and royal jelly were used as additives in famous pharmaceutical products (Virapin, Vita-Apinol), but due to low prices of these raw materials on the global market beekeepers are no longer motivated to produce them. Some cooled pollen for bumblebee rearing and propolis for antibacterial products are requested by foreign buyers on an annual basis. Organisations, research and education The first national association, the Slovak Association of Beekeepers in Upper Hungary, was created in 1869, although regional associations were previously active. Today most beekeepers are members of the Slovak Association of Beekeepers that publishes the wellknown monthly magazine Vcelar (The Beekeeper). In the north, Liptovsky Hradok is home to the Institute of Beekeeping. The Institute is not large, yet together with the University of Agriculture in Nitra and the University of Veterinary Medicine in Kosice, co-ordinates research activities, insemination of queens, and other programmes.

Until recently many different types of hives were used in Slovakia. Currently there is a growing use of standard hives with double walls. Nevertheless, in comparison with statistical surveys of some other European countries, our situation is not the worst. We still have about 7.5 bee colonies per km2. As a comparison, Austria, Bulgaria, and Romania each have 5.5 bee colonies per km2; in Germany there are 4.5 colonies per km2; in Italy and Spain 3.2 colonies are found per km2; and in Ireland and Sweden there are only 0.2 colonies per km2. Main problems z

A very popular product: mead is packed in a variety of bottles The Slovak Academy of Sciences in Bratislava is involved in an international programme dealing with gene mapping of honeybees. The Beekeeping Section of the Slovak Agricultural University in Nitra teaches beekeeping and pollination to students and the public. Ten years of decline In the last few years the clear trend has been a reduction throughout Europe in

instrument for agro-sector support in EU associated countries) allows beekeepers to apply for subsidies to build honey-processing plants.

the number of bee colonies. Causes include economic factors, the worsening environment, and health problems for bees. An analogous situation exists in Slovakia: the number of colonies today is about 250,000 compared with 430,100 in 1989. Since the 'Velvet Revolution' in 1989, more than 20,000 people have ceased beekeeping as a hobby. The current status is about 18,100 beekeepers, each with an average of 11 colonies.

Changes in government support and need to adopt EU policy. Until 2003, beekeepers were supported by the Ministry of Agriculture with a financial subsidy for each colony. This system did not motivate beekeepers to make structural changes to their apiaries. Beekeeping is still mainly an inefficient activity, not a highly organised industry. Approximately 75% of all beekeepers keep less than 10 colonies each. The Ministry supported also medication, queen purchase and bee colony check-ups, and an export subsidy for honey. The SAPARD programme (an EU grant

However, in the immediate future we an anticipate a continuous decline of hobby beekeepers, as EU legislation prefers large, commercial apiaries. In this situation the concept of further development of beekeeping in Slovakia by the Ministry of Agriculture seems to be important, with a strategy for beekeeping until 2005. z

The rapid rise in household income means more people can afford to buy sugar instead of honey. Prices fluctuate depending on annual harvest and EU import policies from third countries.

The disinterest of youngsters in beekeeping - the majority of beekeepers are retired people.

The orientation of the Slovak agricultural industry toward higher profit projects with less risk.

Beekeeping is negatively affected by diseases and pests of bees and brood, mainly Varroa and American Foulbrood. Varroa was first detected in 1978: between 1978-1982, 20,000 colonies were killed. Since 1983, when effective medicines were introduced, Varroa has been Controlled. We use the fumigation method with local Avartin strips (Amitraz), preparations with pyrethroids (Gabon PA and PF) and formic acid (Formidol evaporating pads, Apiform solution). Antibiotic treatments to control foulbrood were found to be ineffective and only radical eradication of this disease by destroying colonies is used today.

I have tried in this review to pay attention to the problems faced by Slovak beekeepers, which are comparable to other countries of East and Central Europe. At present, changes to the market economy can be seen in Slovakia, including the legislative effects of Slovakia's association with the EU. Slovakia is a country of great beekeeping traditions and home for thousands of beekeepers. We are very interested to establish closer links with research and academic institutions, as well as with beekeeping associations around the world. We are grateful to Róbert Chlebo from the Slovak Agricultural University in Nitra for providing the information and photographs for this article.

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LOOK AHEAD, NOTICE BOARD

LOOK AHEAD ARGENTINA Propoleos Curso Latinoamericano: Cosecha, control de calidad y elaboración de subproductos (Propolis: harvest, quality control and products) 21-23 August 2003, Santiago del Estero Further details: cedia@unse.edu.ar BELGIUM 1st International Beekeeping Congress of CARI: what future for European beekeeping? 22-24 November 2003, Louvain-la-Neuve Further details: www.cari.be BRAZIL XV Congresso Brasileiro de Apicultura (XV Brazilian Apiculture Congress) 18-22 May 2004, Ponta Negra Further details: conbrapi2004@ig.com.br 8th International Conference on Tropical Apiculture 6th Brazilian Bee Research Meeting 6-10 September 2004, Ribeirão Preto Further details: www.ibra.org.uk

COSTA RICA APIMONDIA Conference on Tropical Beekeeping: Research and development for pollination and conservation 22-25 February 2004, Heredia Further details: lsanchez@una.ac.cr CUBA APIMONDIA Symposium: Apitherapy 6-10 October 2003, Havana Further details: roch.domerego@euronet.be GERMANY APIMONDIA Symposium: Diagnosis of bee diseases Further details: www.beepathology.com APIMONDIA Symposium: Prevention of residues in honey 28-29 May 2004, Celle Further details: www.beepathology.com INDIA International Workshop on conservation and management of bees for sustainable Development and Apiexpo 2003 13-18 October 2003, Bangalore Further details: www.beekeepingworkshop.org

NOTICE BOARD

ITALY European Conference of Apidology EurBee 19-23 September 2004, Udine Further details: www.uniud.it/eurbee/ NETHERLANDS Globalisation, localisation and tropical forest management in the 21st Century 22-23 October 2003, Amsterdam Further details: www.tropenbos.org PHILIPPINES 7th Asian Apicultural Association Conference 23-27 February 2004, Los Baños Further details: www.tamagawa.ac.jp/sisetu/gakujutu/ honey/aaa/aaa-eng.htm RUSSIA Intermiod 2003: 4th Exhibition and Conference on Beekeeping 3-7th September 2003, Moscow Further details: expostroy@expostroy.ru UNITED KINGDOM National Honey Show 13-15 November 2003, London Further details on page 16

RESEARCH GRANTS The International Foundation for Science (IFS) and Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa announce a new joint research grants programme for young researchers in Sub-Saharan Africa. Grants will be awarded to multidisciplinary teams for research on sustainable agriculture for food production in Africa. The next deadline for applications is 15 September 2003.

PROJECT SUPPORT FAO, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, supports beekeeping projects in developing countries. For projects with budgets under US$10,000 beekeepers' groups and associations may apply for small project funding from the TeleFood Special Fund. Request documents should include a brief description of the project's objectives, the proposed food production or income-generating activities, the work plan, the number of participants, a detailed list of inputs with cost estimates and the reporting arrangements. Submit your request to the office of FAO or UNDP in your country.

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Applications for projects with budgets over US$10,000 must be submitted through a Government Ministry. See: www.fao.org. PEACEFUL GARDEN COTTAGE IN SCOTLAND Accommodation offered, 15 km from Edinburgh, near buses, in exchange for skilled help in garden and small apiary (one day per week per person).

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NEWS AROUND THE WORLD BRAZIL The Bee Research Group of Universidade Federal do Ceará was created in 1996 by Dr Breno Magalhães Freitas under the name Bee-Plant interactions for pollination and production. It is registered in the Brazilian National Directory of Research Groups CNPq. This Group carries out research related to a variety of social and solitary bee species and correlated subjects. Its members are also involved in teaching and supervising undergraduate and graduate students of biology, agronomy and animal science and extension activities in their areas of knowledge. Researchers are lecturers and students belonging to the Departments of Biology, Plant Science and Animal Science of Universidade Federal do Ceará, Universidade Estadual do Vale do Acaraú, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Queen's University Belfast (UK) and one researcher from EMBRAPA/CNPAT (Brazilian National Research Centre in Tropical Agroindustry). The Group has successfully reared colonies of Melipona quinquefasciata in hives kept above ground. The occurrence of this species in north-east Brazil was unknown until its discovery by the Group in the plateaus of Araripe and Ibiapaba (state of Ceará) in 2000. More information at www.abelhas.ufc.br

CAMEROON

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IRAN/POLAND

Congratulations to Professor Jerzy Woyke of the Agricultural University in Warsaw, Poland who has been chosen as the winner of the 15th Khwarizmi Award. Abu Jafar Mohammad Ibn Mousa Khwarizmi was a famous mathematician and astronomer who lived from 770-840 AD. In 1988 The Iranian Research Organization for Science & Technology proposed the Award in memory of this great scientist. The Prize is given to persons who offer an extraordinary contribution to the development of agriculture, engineering, medicine or science. Out of 200 worldwide projects Professor Woyke received the Award for his contribution to the science and practice of apiculture and was recognised for his research on honeybee biology, reproduction and sex determination. His work on Asian honeybees was noted, as well as his investigations into the biology and control of the parasitic mite Tropilaelaps clareae. This is the first time that the Award has recognised apiculture.

Jean-Paul Kemgang sent this picture of 'Apiculture Binum' at work. Jean-Paul explains that Members of the Association join together to buy wood and the Association undertakes hive construction for no charge.

KENYA

Jonathan Lelgo provides Pandaptai Beekeeping & Agroforestry Project participants with information on bee husbandry. The Project uses frame and top-bar hives. 11

news around the world

NEWS AROUND THE WORLD

news around the world

Bees for Development Journal

NIGERIA Healing with honey

passed on. This practice corresponds to one of Heifer International's Cornerstones of Passing on the gift to a neighbour.

A pupil arrived back at his school in Lagos with a deep cut on his ankle. His mother had searched everywhere for an antiseptic lotion, but was unsuccessful. A neighbour suggested applying honey to the wound with the assurance that it would do the same job as any disinfectant. Initially his mother was not sure, but her fears were allayed by a medical report that confirmed the potent antiseptic properties of honey. This explained that glucose oxidase (an enzyme found in bee saliva) breaks down the glucose in nectar. A by-product of this reaction is hydrogen peroxide which is well known as a disinfectant. Honey also stimulates the formation of capillaries and triggers cells that produce new skin to grow. Antioxidants in honey possess antiinflammatory action that helps reduce swelling, improve circulation and keep the wound from weeping. The report advised against giving honey to children under the age of one. Kparev Emmanuel, Abuda.

Beekeeping has not been fully exploited for the socio-economic development and environmental conservation that would help boost Tanzania's economy. This is due to a number of limiting factors that include: (i) lack of capital or credit facilities (ii) low priority by both private and government sectors in investing for development of the beekeeping industry (iii) lack of information dissemination (iv) poor marketing system (v) low production of bee products (vi) beekeeping ispractised mostly by old men (vii) poor networking. In February 2003 Heifer InternationalTanzania organised a three-day workshop and exhibition in Arusha to share best practice on Production of Bee Products and Marketing Promotion. The aim was to come up with strategies to help the beekeeping sector move forward. Participants agreed on the importance of creating a Forum with representation from each of the beekeeping zones for all stakeholders to spearhead beekeeping activities in Tanzania. Beekeepers, sellers of bee products, exporters, co-operatives and associations, extension officers, trainers, researchers, NGOs, CBOs and consumers would be involved. By the end of June, each beekeeping zone was to meet and discuss what they would like the Forum to achieve. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism and Heifer International-Tanzania were urged to facilitate the meetings. It was agreed that Zonal Representatives should be invited to the National Meeting in October 2003 to provide feedback. Information supplied by Erwin Kinsey, Heifer International in Tanzania

PAKISTAN

Varroa mite has finally reached every apiary in Pakistan. Beekeepers in the country have been reporting serious losses. A recent visit to ten beekeepers revealed that for the past 6-9 months they have been using Manpu strips to control Varroa: the active ingredient is unknown. This product is from China and one supplier has imported a container of the strips. Dr Elizabeth Wagchoure Stephen, NARC, Islamabad

TANZANIA Heifer International Beekeeping in Tanzania is considered an inheritance. From one generation to another bees, hives and knowledge are

A copy of the Workshop Proceedings can be downloaded at www.beesfordevelopment.org/downloads/files/13.shtml. Please provide acknowledgement of Heifer International-Tanzania and the origin of any material you reproduce.

Miombo Beekeepers Thanks to Bees for Development for the workshop materials provided to Miombo Beekeepers' Association (MIBA). Some were displayed at National Farmers' Shows held at Mwalimu Nyerere National Showground, Morogoro. The information was powerful and attracted the interest of the public. We held a meeting with representatives from the Lutheran church with whom we have a history of collaboration. The Church promised to support some of the village beekeeping communities at Masagati and along Udzungwa Mountain Rainforest National Park. We are also working closely with Habitat International with the idea of promoting beekeeping for groups with annual loan repayment schemes. It has been realised that beekeeping is sustainable enough to pay for a house loan scheme from Habitat International Ifakara. Katurukila village have already set aside a lowland forest in Kilombero Valley, as a bee reserve. The area covers 162 ha and is close to Selous Game Reserve, the second largest UNESCO world heritage site. Another village Machipi has set aside 1000 acres close to Udzungwa National Parks as a bee reserve. In 2003 we expect more villages to set aside land exclusively for beekeeping in line with the National Beekeeping Policy 1998 and National Beekeeping Act of April 2000. MIBA is mobilising local beekeepers at Masagati Ward and purchasing their honey. We discovered that 75% of the honey has been boiled because this seems an easy way of extracting honey from the comb if no honey press is available: we are encouraging the beekeepers not to cook their honey! Masagati is very remote with a road passable only in the dry season. Citrus has been the main cash crop but recently production levels have dropped significantly due to a serious disease outbreak. Rice is an alternative cash and food crop but due to the unpopularity of upland rice to consumers, the price has been very low. Upland rice farming also involves clearing virgin forest and leads to land degradation. There is good news from the Ministry of Industry and Trade that bee products are one out of four products approved for export to the USA. Kennedy Sabas Haule, MIBA Project Developer

The Workshop provoked many discussions 12

NEWS AROUND THE WORLD

UGANDA Honey factory to open Beekeepers in Uganda will no longer have to hassle for a local market for their honey with the opening of a new honey processing plant in Kampala by the Mazima Group of companies. The plant, to cost Uganda Shillings 500m (about US$300,000) is under construction in Nalukolongo near Kampala and on completion will process honey from various parts of the country, for local consumption and export. Harshad Barot, Managing Director of Mazima Group said they were undertaking this venture to exploit the untapped value of organic honey that is plentiful in Uganda. The Mazima Group is working together with the Uganda Beekeepers' Association to provide materials and some financial assistance. Source: FAO NWFP Digest quoting New Vision (Kampala), Uganda, 25 March 2003. For full story see: http://allafrica.com/stories/ 200303250292.html © Grace Mande

Grace Mande demonstrates to participants undergoing training at Honey Point Ltd Resource Centre that where the queen goes, the swarm will follow. In this instance on his back and head!

ZIMBABWE ITDG launch The Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG) of Southern Africa has launched the Zimbabwe Small-Scale Beekeepers' Association (ZSBA). The formation of the new organisation has been necessitated by the absence of a collective voice to represent the interests of over 10,000 small-scale beekeepers in the country. ZSBA's mandate is to provide a public platform from which beekeepers can articulate the challenges they face and pursue options that will improve production. ITDG said there was need to create a vibrant association to set up linkages

between small-scale beekeepers with national and regional organisations facilitating exchange of information and experiences. The organisation would seek to strengthen networks to increase poor producers' access to credit, training, research, improved technologies and markets. The new organisation could be a collective voice which facilitates more effective interaction with relevant government departments and other service providers. ZSBA would also provide a platform for knowledge sharing on value addition of honey related products, the practice of using bees for pollination and implementing sound environmental management practices. Apiculture has largely been ignored as an agricultural activity in the country. The potential for beekeeping for income-generation is beginning to be realised and beekeeping associations, NGOs and extension services are looking at ways of improving small-scale beekeeping by building on people's knowledge and skills. Beekeepers are failing to supply enough honey for the local market and demand is being met by imports from South Africa. The initiative taken by ITDG will fill the information gap. An International Beekeeping Symposium held in November 1999, which focused on beekeeping in Southern Africa, demonstrated that there is an increasing demand for information dissemination and training in improved beekeeping. In regions such as Vumba near Mutare where rural people have been given assistance, the production and processing of quality honey and other bee products has dramatically increased and yet demand is still greater than supply. Efficient information dissemination would not only see increased honey production but also save the environment. Apiculture has a saving effect on the environment since beekeepers avoid cutting trees as well as avoiding veldt fires. Players in the industry have projected that the assistance from the associations, NGOs and Government would speed up the growth of apiculture and it would not be long before it started competing with other industries. Source: FAO NWFP Digest quoting The Herald (Harare), Zimbabwe, 27 March 2003. For full story see: http://allafrica.com/stories/ 200303270033.html

Varroa has arrived Varroa destructor, the mite that is predatory upon honeybees, was identified by Michael F Schmolke Jnr in 13

Bees for Development Journal

honeybee colonies on Nottingham Estate, Beit Bridge in southern Zimbabwe in April 2003. The level of infestation may indicate that the colonies were first infested 18 months previously. In June 2003, Varroa was identified in samples collected 50 km north of the first discovery and at Hippo Valley Estate, 250 km to the north-east, towards the Mozambique border. Winkie Schmolke and Michael Schmolke, Apiculture Technical Committee, Zimbabwe Beekeepers' Council

Varroa destructor Varroa destructor is a parasitic mite that lives on honeybee pupae and adults. It feeds on the haemolymph (blood) of bees. Varroa mites occur naturally in colonies of Asian honeybees: here the mites never kill the colonies, and the bees never completely get rid of the mites. This is a normal host-parasite relationship. However, during the last century as humans moved bees around the world, Varroa mites were accidentally introduced to Apis mellifera colonies. Apis mellifera is the honeybee indigenous to Africa, Europe and the Middle East, and has been introduced to most other world regions. Apis mellifera has not evolved in the presence of the mite and has no resistance, therefore Apis mellifera are killed by the mite. Once present in a area the mite kills all natural nests of Apis mellifera honeybees, and colonies in hives can survive only if action is taken by the beekeeper.

What are they telling us? Börje Svensson's bees in Sweden have been busy! He sent us this picture of a frame, where the bees seem to be making a map of the world. Is it a map of Varroa destructor distribution, or the future effect of global warning?

BOOKSHELF

bookshelf

Bees for Development Journal

Book Shelf Beekeeping: a practical guide for southern Africa

Dominique Marchand and Jenny Marchand-Mayne 2003 186 pages £23.20 (€32.25) Code M015 An attractively designed and wellillustrated new text. The authors are evidently experienced beekeepers for they

give clear, practical information that a beginner beekeeper in South Africa would need to know. Well described are equipment for frame hive beekeeping, choosing an apiary site, catching a swarm or colony, how to manage bees (in frame hives) and feed them, queen rearing, bee plants of South Africa, honey and its harvest, extraction and marketing. Also information about honey and other bee products, and pollination. Near the end of the book are five pages on 'rural beekeeping' giving basic information on top-bar hives, followed by a useful chapter on pests, disease and other problems. The details given in 'other sources of information' are a little dated: all books listed are from the 1980s or before. Nevertheless a very useful new text.

Zambian beekeeping handbook Bernhard and Renate Clauss 1991 108 pages £20.50 (€28.70) Code C150 We are pleased to announce new stocks of this valuable book for those encouraging beekeeping in resource-poor areas anywhere. Brilliant on handling bees, it is full of practical 'hands on' information and written in a style that is easy to read. The book is extremely well illustrated and contains details of many different types of hive. It provides sound information of exactly the type needed where there are few resources and where existing vegetation and honeybees are precious.

Video Shelf Beekeeping in Cape Verde Eigil Holm 2003 22 minutes PAL/VHS This video is divided into three parts: bees and beekeeping in Cape Verde, equipment, and the harvesting and use of hive products. The author recommends the video as a good teaching resource: each part should be viewed separately after which there

should be a discussion before the section is viewed one more time. The film provides an interesting introduction to beekeeping in Cape Verde. A copy of this video can be downloaded free from: www.beesfordevelopment.org/ downloads/shtml See also Manual de apicultura para Cabo Verde reviewed in BfDJ 67

BOOKSHELF reaches interested readers in nearly every country of the world. We endeavour to review all useful new texts on beekeeping and related aspects of development. Publishers and authors are welcome to send books, videos or CDs for possible review. We will also consider them for inclusion in our website store and mail order service. We are particularly interested to expand our range of publications on tropical beekeeping. If you know of a publication which we do not stock, but you think we should, do let us know.

African honeybees how to handle them in top-b bar hives Script by Bernhard Clauss 1995 22 minutes PAL/VHS £22.90 (€34.40) VID05 This film explains that, as in all beekeeping, what is needed most of all is patience and gentle behaviour - from the beekeeper! Another vital ingredient is plenty of cool smoke. There are excellent tips on how this should be used to the best advantage. We are shown that top-bar hives can be produced using local materials - providing care is taken to guard against local pests. There is also a very good guide on how to collect a swarm and introduce it to your top-bar hive. A good training film. More about top-b bars on page 3

Bees for Development Journal

BOOK ALERT "Agodo Community Development Association started a Library project in 1993 to serve the needs of local people at 23 primary schools, seven secondary schools and tertiary and professional institutes. With the completion of the project, we face a more difficult problem: we have come to realise that a building (no matter how beautiful) does not make a library unless it is equipped. We are compelled to ask for your assistance with materials and advice". Thank you. Arua Kalu, Lagos, Nigeria Many readers living in developing countries need books. We are asking you to assist by providing funds for the provision of small libraries of books for beekeeping associations and projects in developing countries. Levels of support: £50 - 5 books £100 - 15 books £500 - 75 books Shipping costs are included. Bees for Development will provide all recipients with sponsored subscriptions to Bees for Development Journal

Hazards of pesticides to bees L P Belzunces, C Pélissier and G B Lewis (editors) 2001 312 pages £29.70 (€44.55) Code B480 An important text for anyone researching, or needing to know more about the effects of pesticides upon bees. This book presents 27 papers given at a Symposium run by the International Commission for PlantBee Relationships, in France in 1999. Sections cover toxicity tests, effects of sub-lethal doses, metabolites, bee poisoning incidents, non-pesticide chemicals or alternative pest control methods, bumblebees, residue testing and methodology. There are several papers discussing the systemic insecticide imidacloprid (Gaucho®), whose use has been recently banned in France.

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MEETING INFORMATION Bees for Development helps projects in developing countries with copies of BfD Journal and other information for use at training courses and workshops. We must receive notice and details of anticipated number of participants at least three months ahead of the meeting date to ensure delivery. Organisations with resources available can order a Workshop Box for £50 per 25 participants, including surface mail delivery. See ways to pay (below) or order through our website Store.

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THE NATIONAL HONEY SHOW 13-15 November 2003 Kensington Town Hall, London, UK • • • • •

Sparkling lecture convention Amazing trade stands Beekeeping organisations Competitive classes Friends to meet and make and of course, the largest honey show in the world Schedules available from The Honorary General Secretary Rev H F Capener 1 Baldric Road Folkestone, Kent CT20 2NR, UK

E-m mail nathon@zbee.com Tel/Fax +44 (0) 1303 254 579 www.honeyshow.co.uk

Registered charity 233656

7th Asian Apicultural Association Conference 23-27 February 2004, Los Baños, Philippines

Bees for New Asia

World Apiexpo 2004

You are invited to submit papers and posters on the following topics

A trade fair featuring beekeeping equipment and hive products. Companies and equipment makers are invited to participate.

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Apiculture extension

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Bees and environment

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Bee biology

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Beekeeping economy

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Beekeeping technology

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Bee pests and diseases

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Bee products (including apitherapy)

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Melliferous flora and pollination

Full papers must be received no later than 1 October 2003 Organised by: BEENET Philippines Foundation Inc

University of the Philippines Bee Programme

Registration fees Until 30 December 2003 Full participant Accompanying person

US$275 US$150

After 30 December 2003 Full participant Accompanying person

US$300 US$175

Second Circular now available from: Dr Cleofas R Cervancia Institute of Biological Sciences University of the Philippines Los Baños College, Laguna Philippines E-mail cleofas.cervancia@up.edu.ph www.laguna.net/uplbbees

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Bees for Development Journal Edition 68 - September 2003

Articles inside

Back Cover

Bookshelf

News around the World

Notice Board

Look & Learn Ahead

Zoom in on Slovakia

Project news from ICIMOD

Trees Bees Use

Practical beekeeping

In Issue 68

Dear friends