Download TAAG Book of Abstracts - Tropical Biology Association

Beehive and honey losses caused by bush burning to
beekeepers in Adjumani District, Uganda
Moses Chemurot 1 , Patrice Kasangaki 2 , Ojja Francis 3 ,
Eric Sande 1 and Gilbert Isabirye-Basuta 1
1 Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.
2 National Livestock Resources Research Institute, P.O.
Box, 96 Tororo.
3 Adjumani District Local Government, P.O. Box, 2
Adjumani.
Corresponding author email:
moseschemurot@gmail.com
Abstract
This paper examines annual beehive and honey losses
due to bush burning among beekeepers in Adjumani
District, northern Uganda. It seeks to quantify numbers
of beehives and quantify honey losses together with
economic losses accruing annually to beekeepers from
the rampant bush burning so that government agencies
can counter any breakdown in livelihood strategies and
improve the quality of life of the beekeepers. We
interviewed beekeepers on the number of hives lost to
bushfires and estimates of honey lost to bush burning.
The capacities of honey measuring containers used by
beekeepers were estimated and always referred to for
conversion. This information was later compared with
field observations to get a better assessment of the
losses. The results indicate that 29.6% of the
beekeepers reported loss of beehives and honey to bush
burning. On average a beekeeper lost 3 beehives. A
total of 387 beehives were lost by 152 farmers sampled.
The total projection of the number of beehives and
honey lost in the district in the dry season of 2010/2011
were 1067 and 10,456.6kg respectively. This quantity of
honey could have fetched approximately 41,826,400
Uganda Shillings ($16,730.6) when sold locally in
Adjumani. Therefore bush burning is a big threat to
livelihood strategies in Adjumani and if controlled, there
is great potential for increased honey production,
household incomes and increased local revenue.
Environmental degradation caused by vegetation
burning and free range of livestock in search for pasture
was clearly evident. We recommend quick interventions
such as implementation of the district environment
ordinance and other environmental laws.
Increasing Nutritional value of the Oyster mushroom
by incorporating Gliricidia sepium in the growing
substrate
John Richard
Tanzania Forestry Research Institute P.O. Box
1854Morogoro, Tanzania
Email for correspondence: jorijomb@yahoo.com
Abstract
Mushroom cultivation has recently gained attention of
both small and large investors as it requires little space,
less water utilization and is one of the important foods
to people living with HIV AIDS. For communities living
adjacent to forest reserves, mushroom cultivation has
successfully been used as an alternative source of
income thus reduces pressure to the forest. However,
there is an increasing concern on the nutritional value as
contents in the mushroom primarily depend on the
substrate on which they grow. The study was therefore
carried out to determine the amount of protein, and
minerals in mushrooms following amendment of rice
straw with Gliricidia sepium foliage. Mushrooms were
cultivated in polythene bugs, whereby six treatments
i.e. different ratios of Gliricidia foliage to rice straw (0%,
5%. 10%, 15% 20% and 25%) were applied in the
growing substrate. Protein and minerals from the
harvested mushrooms were analyzed in the laboratory
to determine the content of crude protein and minerals
(i.e. Manganese, Copper, Potassium, Calcium,
Magnesium and Zinc). There was an increase of 40%
protein in the substrate (rice straw) amended with 10%
Gliricidia foliage. Further increase of Gliricidia foliage in
the growing substrate not only reduced the amount of
protein but also inhibited the uptake of minerals such as
Potassium, Magnesium, Zinc and Manganese. The
increase in protein is significant and it shows that
Gliricidia highly improves nutritional value of the
mushroom.
Keywords: Oyster mushroom, Gliricidia, nutritional,
protein, substrate
Keywords: Beekeeping, apiary, fire, economics, loss
TAAG First African Student’s Conference, Nairobi. 2-4 July, 2013 55