Beekeeping Workshop in Malawi 12-30 October 1985
by Kyauiso M.
PHoKeEpb!I,
Beekeeping Technical Officer, Government of Botswana
The US Peace Corps in Malawi, in conjunction with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources, recently organised the first Beekeeping Workshop in Malawi. The 55 participants included extension staff from Ministries of Wildlife, National Parks and Agriculture, farmers from all regions of Malawi and Peace Corps Volunteers. The Workshop was initiated by Ms Rusty Klinger, a Peace Corps Volunteer, after discussion with other beekeeping development workers at the 3rd International Conference on Apiculture in Tropical Climates held in Nairobi in 1984. The approach to beekeeping used in Botswana (described in the Beekeeping Handbook by Bernhard Clauss) also seems appropriate for rural people in Malawi and therefore I was invited to be a lecturer at the Workshop, along with Mr M. N. Kawa from the Apiculture Programme in Mozambique and Mr J. B. Mweso, the only commercial beekeeper in Malawi. The Workshop was held in Chilinda on the Nyika Plateau. The area is covered with plantations of introduced Pinus spp. and Eucalyptus spp. and also has indigenous miombo woodlands.
Historical Background of Beekeeping in Malawi Beekeeping was first recorded in Malawi in the 1930’s when it was undertaken by colonialists and Malawians who were living in the then Nyika National Park. During that time Malawi was exporting tons of beeswax to Europe. After Independence the country’s beekeeping declined and the situation worsened when the Government wanted to expand the National Park forcing the people living in the area to move out. Farmers who had been moved settled outside the park, where they are now doing traditional beekeeping using log hives. Beekeeping has been neglected since Independence and nobody has received any training. 2
Khaliso Phokedi (centre) talking with farmers. In the foreground is a top-bar hive suspended by wires and covered with plastic for insulation. A farm broadcaster is recording the discussion.
Beekeeping in Malawi at present Mr Mweso, a retired Government Officer, has 450 hives sited in the miombo woodlands and in the acacia stands in the south of the country. Through negotiations he has been allowed to let his bees forage in the Nyika National Park to utilise the indigenous trees and shrubs. Mr
ture all bee equipment and sell to farmers who are interested to start a project. It should be noted that Mr Mweso did not go to a beekeeping Institute to train in beekeeping, but learned his craft through manuals, communication with IBRA etc.
Beekeeping Workshop
The Course programme included the Mweso is the only Malawian following: beekeeper to have had honey (a) Apiary work: opening hives, colthe diffeaccepted by the international mar- ony inspection, identifying rent of bees in the types colony, use ket. His products are graded at the of record bee sheets, space etc. Bureau for Food Standards in Blanmembers of the Bee biology: tyre, and he can then sell his honey (b) and their duties. on the international market if they colony are satisfied of the quality. His honey (c) Honey and beeswax: harvesting, is also sold on the local market and is processing, packaging, grading, uses. much cheaper than that imported (d) Bee management: construction from South Africa. At one time he of the Noah’s hive, Kenya top-bar exported beeswax to Zambia as the hive, Tanzania top-bar hive, apiary local prices were not satisfying. He selection, baiting and siting of a trap uses all types of hives except the hive, making wax strips on top-bars, traditional hives and now uses Kenya identification of important bee and diseases. top-bar hives and Mozambican tran- plants, pests sition hives made during our stay there. He is also ready to manufac-
Recommendations: After the three week Workshop the following re-
