Status of Honey Bee (Apis mellifera L.) Industry in Cameroon: A Review Article

Abstract

Beekeeping is one of the oldest environmentally friendly activities practiced in Cameroon. In Cameroon, beekeeping is an important livelihood activity especially to those not involved in agriculture and forest exploitation. It has contributed much in poverty alleviation and environmental protection through hive products and pollination respectively. Cameroon has five main agro-ecological zones with a diversity of melliferous plants species suitable for beekeeping. Despite the abundant resources, honey and other hives products extraction is still low. Amongst hive products, honey and bee wax are harvested by 100% and 94% of beekeepers respectively. Honey and bee wax production vary from region to region with Adamawa, Northwest, West and Southwest being the most production regions respectively. The price of honey varies from 1,200~2,500 FCFA and 2,000~4,500 FCFA for brown honey and Oku white honey respectively. The country is facing many constraints of beekeeping such as climate change and deforestation, poor hive management practices, pests, poor market system as well as many others. To overcome these challenges, beekeepers, together with the government are putting forward measures such as sustainable forest management through the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife, and the practice of modern beekeeping techniques.