Beekeeping Research Articles

Assessment of beekeeping production system and constraints in Sude Woreda, Arsi Zone Oromia Ethiopia

The study was conducted in Arsi Zone Sude Woreda, Oromia region, Ethiopia aims to assess beekeeping production systems and constraints. Totally, 90 households were selected for the study. Semi structured questionnaire was prepared to collect primary data. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the results were organized by tables and graphs. Based on the survey result, about 97% of the respondents indicated there are different forage types of honey bees’ floras like shrubs, bushes, cultivated crops herbs, weeds and some woody plants like Wanza, Koshem, Sesbania, Acacia and Tree Lucerne. The majority (72%) of the respondents obtained beekeeping by catching swarms. Honey was harvested twice a year from May to June and September to November. The survey result also indicated that beekeeping has a huge number of constraints that hinder honey bee production and profitability. The major constraints are shortage of bee forage, pests and predators, death of colony, swarming; bad weather and marketing. Lack of bee forage associate with deforestation is the main problem, and it ranks first from all the constraints. The major pests and predators are ants, rats, beetles wax moth, bee lice, spiders, birds, lizards, snakes, etc. The respondents indicated that, they have interest to improve beekeeping practices in the area. So the government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) should support by training them on how to manage honey bee flora, and providing modern honey bee equipment to enhance the honey productivity is also very important to enhance the products of beekeeping in the study area. Key words: Beekeeping practice, Ethiopia.

Economics and Importance of Beekeeping

Economics and Importance of Beekeeping

Relation between composition, antioxidant and antibacterial activities and botanical origin of multifloral bee pollen

Harvested bee pollen is valuable for its nutritional value and healthy properties. This work relates the botanical origin of sixteen bee pollens from Chile with their phenolic, protein and carotenoid content, and antioxidant/antibacterial activities. Our results showed that the chemical properties of different bee pollens are associated with the plant’ species from which each one was derived from. Some correlations between chemical properties and botanical origin were observed. Bee pollen showed between 20.0- 30.4% protein, 2.8-50.2 mg/kg carotenoids, 22.8-918.4 mg/kg phenolics, and 4.51-91.19 mmol Fe+2/kg pollen. Antibacterial activity was observed against all bacteria assayed even surpassing the activity of traditional antibiotics. Brassica sp. and Galega officinalis are an abundant source of antioxidants and antibacterial compounds. Other species such as those derived from fruit and endemic plants from Chile, although they occur less frequently, are also good source of these compounds. Some correlations between botanical origin and chemical, antioxidant and antibacterial properties were observed. Knowing the influence of plant species over the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of bee pollen, will allow selecting the best location for honeycombs and will allow beekeepers to differentiate and add value to their products.

PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS OF BEE KEEPING AT KHATARSHNONG IN MEGHALAYA.

PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS OF BEE KEEPING AT KHATARSHNONG IN MEGHALAYA.

Survey on Traditional Beekeeping and Honey Production in Biu and Its Environs, North – Eastern Nigeria

For years in olden times, man depended on gathering and hunting for foods and the favourable climate, but recently, the coming of many scientific, technological and engineering, innovations and the clarion call for change and sustainable development, man had improved and modified plants varieties and animal breeds for food security and it consequences. For these reasons, this study was conducted on the survey on traditional honey bee (Apis millifera) keeping and honey production in Biu and its environs. Compound structured closed and opened ended questionnaires and verbal interview were used for data and information ecosystem collection. One hundred and fifty (150) questionnaires were distributed randomly to beekeepers within the communities of Bubalwada, Garwashina and Kirmbula villages in Biu, north – eastern Nigeria, retrieved, statistically analysed and were recorded. It revealed vital information on the demography of the Apiculturists and the traditional honey beekeeping, honey production; male’s youths (83%), married persons (57%), those with formal educational status (68%), business persons (31%), attended secondary level of education (35%), number of house hold size (16 persons and above), have experience in beekeeping (9 years and above), were mostly involved in Apicultural practicing. The study also revealed that most of the Apiculturists in the study area use grass hives for the traditional method (27%), honey bee wax as attractant for new colonies formation (51%), wild honey harvesting (63%) and traditional methods of honey production (68%), rude method of honey processing (61%) and theft of the honey being produced was the most serious problems they encountered were (37%). The majority of the Beekeepers in Biu and its environs sale their honey at retails price (41%) and sales were done in the rural market (47%) inclusively. Youths are urging to engage and participate in this sector of farming, it adds more beauty to the agro – ecosystem - ecology and economic values systems.

Study on Honey Quality Evaluation and Detection of Adulteration by Analysis of Volatile Compounds

Abstract Fast evaluation of honey quality is a topical and significant problem of the food industry, bee keepers and consumers. In this work, 22 samples of commercially available honey aromas (with methyl and ethyl esters of phenylacetic acid predominated), 13 samples of authentic honey collected directly from bee keepers (characterised by high content of benzaldehyde, 2-phenylethanol, hotrienol and 2-phenylacetaldehyde) and 63 honeys purchased from an outdoor market were evaluated based on volatiles profiles determined through solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC/MS) and then suspicious samples were identified. The results were statistically processed and compared with results of a sensory analysis. Six honeys, which differed significantly in volatiles profiles (outliers detected by Factor Analysis), selected volatile substance representation (furan-2-carbaldehyde, 1,4-dimethylpyrazole, benzaldehyde, 2-phenylacetaldehyde) and honey aroma intensity and pleasantness were subjected to targeted analyses (i.e. determination of 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-furaldehyde, diastase activity, unauthorized additive presence). Four of these suspicious samples were found to have high content of 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-furaldehyde (more than 40 mg/kg), three honeys had low values for diastase activity (less than 8) and three samples positive for triacetin addition. The fact that all these samples revealed a breach of least one of the selected quality parameters defined by the Codex Alimentarius standard proved the proposed methodology to be a useful tool for fast quality evaluation of honey.

Melliferous Resources for Bee Forage

Efficiency of beekeeping industry depends not only on honeybee strains, its management and hive structures, but also on the abundance, availability and proper utilization of bee flora around bee farming areas. The present investigation was conducted in three barangays in Northwestern Cagayan covering Culao, Sitio Nagbaranganan in Centro 2 and Balingit from March 2014 to April 2015. The study used a descriptive survey method to identify the diversity of melliferous resources and to develop a floral calendar in relation to pollen and nectar availability in the area. Data was analyzed using a frequency count. In the three vegetations sampled, 54 plant species are useful to honeybees, 27 of which are forest trees, 25 are agricultural crops, and one each is a shrub and a weed. The study ascertained 18 flowering plants as extremely important bee floras since these blossom throughout the year. March to May were identified as the honey flow periods. July to September (dry season) and October to December (rainy season) were the dearth periods for honeybees in the study area. A floral calendar was developed based on the characteristics, abundance, time and duration of bloom of the bee flora. Northwestern Cagayan is suitable to initiate bee farming.

Przywilej dla osady pod zamkiem w Piszu z 1367 roku

This paper discusses, in detail, the content of the privileges for the residents of the settlement by the castle at Pisz from 10 November 1367, which were presented simultaneously by the commander of Balga and the Natan�gian advocate Ulryk Fricke. The commander provided the right to fish freely, maintain apiaries and hunt, and the inhabitants also received the Kulm law, although this was not mentioned in the document. From the beginning, the community also had a clear role in serving the castle garrison, tasked with the economic exploitation of the forest and wetlands. The inhabitants, however, were free, with the status of gardeners, and were referred to above all as bee keepers or fishermen.

The costs of beekeeping for pollination services in the UK – an explorative study

Honey bees are a key managed pollination service resource in crop agriculture, providing flexible, highly generalist and resilient pollination service delivery to a broad range of UK crops. Despite their potential economic impacts, there is little information on the actual costs involved in providing pollination services experienced by UK beekeepers. Utilizing an online survey of UK beekeepers, this study examines the full economic costs of providing pollination services to crops in the UK, as well as examining the differences in costs experienced by different beekeepers. The findings indicate that <10% of respondent beekeepers, mainly professionals, actively provide pollination services to crops, and rarely receive payment for this in field crops. In apple orchards, where beekeepers most often receive payments, the benefits to the orchard are estimated at 86–149 times the payments received by beekeepers. Although exploratory, the findings highlight the need for wider collection of information on beekeeping costs and several key knowledge gaps that could influence future development of the UK bee farming industry.

Assessment of honeybee enemies (pests and predators) in Bale zone, Southeastern Ethiopia

Among all constraints of beekeeping, natural bee enemies are known to cause great damage on the life and the product of honeybees through causing absconding and migration. A study was conducted in Bale from July, 2010- June, 2012 in six districts with the objective of assessing the effect of natural bee enemies on the life of honeybees and their products. From each district 3 Rural Kebeles (RK’s) and 10 beekeepers from each RK’s were purposively selected and a total of 180 beekeepers were participated. The selected beekeepers were interviewed using pre-tested structured questionnaires and single-visit-multiple formal survey method to collect the data. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 software and descriptive analysis method. The majority (96.86%) of the respondents in the study area were followed traditional production system, but only few beekeepers were started transitional (0.88) and modern (2.26) beekeeping production system. In the study area honeybees’ enemies, agro-chemicals, lack of knowledge to manage bees and bee products, lack of bee colonies and bees poisoning from plants identified as major beekeeping constraints. Respondents were asked to identify major honeybee pests and predators. Based on the result of this study, the existence of pests and predators were a major challenge to the honeybees and beekeepers in the study area. In all surveyed area the beekeepers were reported that the presence of Honey badger, spider, bee-eating birds, bee lice, Beetles, wasps, Death Head hawks moth Mice and lizards in order of their decreasing importance. Traditionally, the beekeepers were used their own control mechanisms of protecting these pests and predators like application of ash under the stand of the hive, hanging hives by rope on long trees, cleaning around the apiary site, using dog for large predators like honey badger, fencing their apiary site and mechanical like killing of the predators and pests etc. About 72.6% of the respondents reported that honey production trend in the area were decreasing and 25.1% and 2.2 was said increasing and unchanged trend of production system respectively. Despite the challenges of beekeeping, it is realized that there is potential of beekeeping in Bale, though the production system is traditional and there is an opportunity of improving the situation since there are plenty of beekeeping resources.

ЭЛЕКТРОТЕХНОЛОГИЧЕСКИЕ СПОСОБЫ ПОВЫШЕНИЯ ПРОИЗВОДИТЕЛЬНОСТИ ТРУДА В ПЧЕЛОВОДСТВЕ

ЭЛЕКТРОТЕХНОЛОГИЧЕСКИЕ СПОСОБЫ ПОВЫШЕНИЯ ПРОИЗВОДИТЕЛЬНОСТИ ТРУДА В ПЧЕЛОВОДСТВЕ

From the solitary bee to the social bee. The inventiveness of children in the acquisition of beekeeping skills (southwestern Morocco)

De l’abeille solitaire à l’abeille sociale. Inventivité des enfants et apprentissage de l’apiculture (sud-ouest du Maroc). À partir de plusieurs exemples ethnographiques du sud-ouest marocain, le propos de cet article est de restituer la part de l’enfant dans son apprentissage de l’apiculture, notamment lors de l’étape de l’essaimage et dans la relation aux abeilles solitaires. Ceci permet de mieux comprendre comment la vocation d’apiculteur émerge d’une transmission culturelle qui s’appuie en grande partie sur l’expérience autonome et ingénieuse des enfants avec la biodiversité qui les entoure. Pour suivre le processus de transmission et d’apprentissage des savoirs apicoles, cet article propose d’analyser le contexte culturel de sensibilisation de l’enfant à l’abeille dès le plus jeune âge et d’identifier les lieux de l’apprentissage en fonction des différentes expériences avec l’abeille et des tâches apicoles. Enfin et surtout, nous chercherons à confronter cette sensibilisation par le monde des adultes aux apprentissages, liés à la pratique de jeux éducatifs propres à l’univers des enfants avec des abeilles solitaires, préparant à la compréhension du monde des abeilles et des techniques apicoles.

PROBLEMY PSZCZELARSTWA W POLSCE

PROBLEMY PSZCZELARSTWA W POLSCE

Poor Beehive Colonisation: Another Emerging Obstacle to Beekeeping in Nigeria?

Poor Beehive Colonisation: Another Emerging Obstacle to Beekeeping in Nigeria?

Beekeeping Practice and Honey Production in North-East Dry Land Areas of Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia

This study was carried out to evaluate the beekeeping husbandry practices and honey production in three districts of Waghimra Zone (Abergell, Sekota and Gazgibala). To collect the data, 332 respondents were selected using systematic random sampling from the three districts. Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaire, observation, key information interview and focus group discussion. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA using SPSS version-20. The overall trends of bee colony and honey production are declining over the last 5 years. The average honey yield per year/colony was 10.16, 13.61 and 23.32 kg for traditional, transitional and moveable frame hives, respectively. Most of the respondents (68.4%) in the study area practiced traditional beekeeping whereas 7.8 and 23.8% of the respondents practiced transitional and modern bee keeping system, respectively. There was a significant difference (p<0.05%) among the three agro-ecologies on traditional honeybee colonies holding per household. The major source of household income is from crop production 27.7%, livestock production 23.8%, beekeeping activities 16.9% and irrigation 15.4%. Therefore, beekeeping is the third ranking source of income for the households in the study area. Most of the respondents (bee keepers) visit their bees some times and rarely in months. Generally, beekeeping is still the 3rd major source of income for the households in the study area next to crop and livestock production, however, the expected output or income has not earned from this subsector due to various challenges existed in the study area. Thus, based on these findings, improving the awareness of the beekeepers through training is important to address the identified challenges and to improve the overall honey production in Waghimara Zone.

Comparative analysis of traditional Bee Hunters and Beekeepers in Ganye and Toungo Local Government Areas, Adamawa State, Nigeria

The study analyzed the activities of traditional bee hunters and beekeepers in Ganye and Toungo Local Government Areas, Adamawa State, Nigeria. The objectives of the survey were to: compare the socio-economic characteristics of the bee hunters and beekeepers in study area; compare bee sting prevention techniques; yield and income; and problems encountered in honey collection by the respondents. Snowball sampling technique was used to select Fifty-one respondents (consisting of 34 bee hunters and 17 beekeepers) who were served with questionnaire. The findings of the study showed that 70.6% of beekeepers are below 50 years of age, while only 29.4% of the bee hunters’ are below 50 years of age with more than 82% of the two categories were male. About 65% of beekeepers attained formal education (primary = 11.8%, secondary = 23.5%, diploma and degree = 29.4%) while only 8.8% of bee hunters attained primary and 11.8%secondary education. About 94% of bee beekeepers used bees dress/suit while only 2.9% of bee hunters used bees dress/suit to prevent bee sting. Beekeepers made more income than the bee hunters. The least (11.8%) honey output per harvest of beekeepers is between ₦46, 000.00 and ₦55000.00 which is more than the highest money realized by the bee hunters (₦36, 000.00 and ₦45, 000.00). Ninety four percent and 88.2% of the bee hunters cited inadequate wild hives and bee sting as problems they encountered respectively. All (100%) of the bee hunters and 41.2% of the beekeepers complained of inadequate extension visit while 76.5% and 64.7% of the beekeepers cited inadequate fund and transportation as problems respectively. It was concluded that beekeepers have a better bee sting prevention techniques and yield than the bee hunters. The highest money realized by the bee hunters is not up to the least money made by the beekeepers. It is recommended that extension agencies should endeavor to teach farmers on bee keeping techniques so as to encourage bee hunters to move from being hunters to keepers. Both bee hunters and bee keepers should form associations so as to have collective bargaining for credits.

Impact of traditional beekeeping on Mgori Village Land Forest Reserve in Singida District, Tanzania

A study was conducted in villages around Mgori Village Land Forest Reserve (VLFR), Singida District in Tanzania to assess the impact of traditional beekeeping on the condition of forest resources. Data collection involved participatory rural appraisal, questionnaire survey and forest inventory. Data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences and Ms Excel. The Shannon-Wiener index was used to analyse evenness in species diversity. Results indicated that the majority of households practice traditional beekeeping using log hives. There is no proper management system of traditional beekeeping apart from regular forest patrols. The majority (82%) of respondents viewed traditional beekeeping as an effective way of managing forest resources as it helps to protect the forest against destruction and results in increased plant productivity through pollination. Results further showed that although not statistically significant (p>0.05), sites where beekeeping was practiced had more stems per hectare (ha) for dbh ≤10 cm compared to sites where there was no beekeeping implying high regeneration of species due to minimal disturbances in beekeeping sites. Forest destruction, decreasing bee forages and drought were identified to be the main threats to traditional beekeeping. If well implemented, traditional beekeeping can be a tool for sustainable forest management. The need to promote best beekeeping practices which contribute to sustainable forest management in the area and beyond is recommended.

EXTENSION AGRICULTURAL INNOVATION FOR BEE KEEPERS TO DEVELOP AND INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY IN THE CENTRAL REGION OF IRAQ

The research aimed to identify the level of bee keepers innovation to develop and increase productivity in the central region of Iraq , In order to achieve the goals of research a questionnaire consisted of two parts, designed the first part included a bilateral scale to measure the level of beekeepers innovations, consists of ( 46 ) paragraphs Distributed on five fields (bee keeping , the area to take advantage of the bees in environment, the detection of diseases and pests ,the treating diseases and pest control , the field of honey products and peripherals manufacturing ), The second part included a barometer quadrilateral to measure the reasons consists of ( 34 ) paragraphs Distributed on four pivots (environmental causes , extension, economic , social). The research community a random sample ( 38%)of the which is (Baghdad, Babil, Najaf) a random sample (15%) of the total number of beekeepers totaling (1098) breeders in the provinces covered by the research, to be the size of the sample (165) educator for the bees . The results showed that bee keepers suffer from weak innovation levels, as the highest rate is (66.7%) of the beekeepers within the level of innovation (0-15) and an average of (11.12) degree and a standard deviation (7.53) degrees . The results showed that the causes that lead bee keepers to innovation is (social causes) came first in the level of importance as it reached the level of significance (2.38) degrees while last (extension causes) and the level of significance (1.93) degrees Researcher recommends the necessity of providing the requirements and production equipment for beekeeping encouraging high international standard prices in order to promote the level of innovation to beekeepers in central region of Iraq and should be concerted efforts by government agencies and of devices guidance, research and beekeepers.

Beekeeping in Croatia: Innovations & challenges for more than 135 years

Beekeeping in Croatia: Innovations & challenges for more than 135 years

Foraging Behavior of Native Honeybee (Apis Cerana F.) and European Honeybee (Apis Mellifera L.) on Flowers of Common Buckwheat (Fagopyrum Esculentum M.) in Chitwan, Nepal

This paper is the findings of the research conducted on foraging behavior of Native honeybee (Apis cerana F.) and European honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) on flowering buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) inside the cage during November 2012 to 2013 at Meghauli, Chitwan, Nepal. Apis cerana F. started their foraging activities early in the morning (8.24 ± 0.50 AM) and ceased late in the evening (5.18 ± 0.20 PM) in comparison to Apis mellifera L., which started foraging at 8.29 ± 0.50 AM and ceased at 4.56 ± 0.50 PM. The total duration of foraging per day was more in Apis cerana F. than Apis mellifera L., i.e. 8.34 ± 0.90 hours per day in Apis cerana F. and 8.25 ± 0.90 hours per day in Apis mellifera L. That means A. cerana F. was 1.8% more efficient on foraging duration than A. mellifera L. Similarly, the number of Apis cerana F. and Apis mellifera L. entering into the hive in five minutes was the highest (51.69 ± 0.45 in Apis cerana F., and 62.81 ± 0.45 in Apis mellifera L.) at 12 Noon while lowest (11.24 ± 0.11 in Apis cerana F., and 5.89 ± 0.11 in Apis mellifera L.) at 5 PM and no activity was started at 8 AM. Likewise, the number of Apis cerana F. and Apis mellifera L. bees outgoing from the hive in five minutes was the highest (42.67 ± 0.98 in Apis cerana F. and 48.71 ± 0.98 in Apis mellifera L.) at 12 Noon and the lowest (4.31 ± 0.07 in Apis cerana F. and 2.39 ± 0.07 in Apis mellifera L.) at 5 PM. The number of buckwheat flower visited by Apis cerana F. was highest at 10 AM while by Apis mellifera L. it was highest at 12 Noon. But, for both species of honeybees it was lowest at 4 PM. There was more time spent by Apis mellifera L. (2.37 seconds) per flower than Apis cerana F. (1.95 seconds) during floral visit. So, Apis cerana F is efficient in foraging and hence in pollination on buckwheat than Apis mellifera L suggesting buckwheat cultivation along with bee farming especially Apis cerana F.Int J Appl Sci Biotechnol, Vol 4(2): 236-239