Agrinews January 2013 - Ministry of Agriculture

FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO
LOW HONEY PRODUCTION
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Things to consider. Low honey
production is not mainly
attributable to lack of forage, but
rather a number of factors play a role.
These factors include:
• Poor management practices:
Beekeepers do not follow the right
management practices such as:
Migratory beekeeping (moving bees
from one area to another following
the blooming period),timely
harvesting resulting in loss of honey
and splitting of colonies.
• Limited access to affordable tools
and equipment
• Lack of access to potential
land
• Limited access to funding
• Poor rains (drought)
• Honey bee pests (e.g. Bee
pirate)
• Lack of policy to regulate the
industry and in some parts of the
country poor bee forage.
Botswana has diverse indigenous
plants which form the backbone
of rural beekeeping. In addition
cultivated crops ornamental flowers
and exotic plants that are cultivated
by growers in both horticulture and
dry land farms (for food or fodders)
can support beekeeping. However
the potential of natural vegetation
can be eroded by growing population,
demand in agricultural land, erratic
rainfalls and prolonged drought.
Water is collected by bees and
used primarily to dilute thick honey,
to maintain optimum humidity
within the hive, and to maintain
appropriate temperatures in the
brood area. The amount of water
required and collected by a colony is
generally correlated with the outside
air temperature and relative humidity,
strength of colony, and amount of
brood rearing in progress. However,
bees do not need a lot of water unless
if the water is for watering bee plants
that a farmer has grown to support
the natural forage. A beekeeper is
able to carry 1 liter of water to feed a
colony of bees on a daily basis during
hotter periods.
The honey bee species that we have
in the country is Apis mellifera . Apis
mellifera is native to Africa and
is known to be highly industrious
compared to other bee races i.e.
European and Asian bees, if managed
well it can have good returns.
What to do
The most contributing factor that
results in poor performance of
the beekeeping industry is poor
management and poor production
systems. Beekeeping is a seasonal
activity and as such each activity has
to be timely otherwise beekeepers
will loose honey. The following are
some of the interventions that can
boost the industry:
- Government to intensify training
on the management practices
- Government to facilitate on the
marketing of honey
- Beekeepers to keep highly
populated colonies for maximum
production
- Beekeepers must give time to their
projects.
- Buy the necessary equipment
- Follow the right management
practices
- Work with forest owners,
conservation areas owners and
growers who grow crops that are
pollinated by honey bees and
practice migratory beekeeping.
- Trainers of trainees ( we earlier on
had BFD for the same purpose).
- Intensify demonstrations and farm
visit.
Research
Yes, there is limited research done on
this area. Previously the Beekeeping
Section has worked with a number of
local and International Institutions. In
2000 in collaboration with University
of Pretoria embarked on identification
of Varroa mite and its distribution in
Botswana. In 2006 a research was
conducted on commercialization
of Beekeeping in Botswana. The
study was to assess and determine
appropriate beekeeping technologies
and management with a view of
enhancing honey production levels
and promoting sustainable and
competitive beekeeping industry
as well as assessing the natural
vegetation. However research done
is not enough. The Department of
Agricultural Research which is tasked
with agricultural research can assist
since the section does not have
the capacity. A forum is needed to
discuss this aspect with stakeholders
such as local institutions (UB, BCA),
Agricultural Research.
Doldrum: who to blame
The Section is working with farmers
to improve beekeeping. Farmers are
also forming associations to work
together.
This sector is growing with the
introduction of poverty eradication
programme. The programme
came with funding which was
quite a challenge to farmers. Most
beekeepers do not have the necessary
equipment and protective clothing
hence depend on officers to inspect
and harvest their colonies.
A lot of doors have been opened with
this programme. So the industry has
grown as we have people trained
on beehive and beehive stands
construction hence would be able
to open companies on sale of these
items. There is another opportunity
coming up of people who would
be supplying bee colonies to
beneficiaries. These we hope would
ease the challenge of slow stocking
of the hives. The result of this ( that
is production) is expected in the next
two years.
SERVICES
- Technical backstopping
- Training
- Demonstrations
- Technology transfer
- Capturing
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January 2013 January 2013
January 2013