Apiconsult News - August - September 2004

Nyuki

Your African Beekeeping Newsletter

August - September 2004 Edition
 
Welcome to this issue of Nyuki (meaning bee is Swahili Language).  Thank you o­nce again for subscribing to this e newsletter.  Please send any comments o­n the e newsletter to tcarroll@apiconsult.com

Asante Sana (Thanks)

Tom Carroll

Webmaster Apiconsult

-----This Month in a Kenyan Apiary-----

Currently as I write the following Trees/Shrubs are in flower in the Kiamunyi (Nakuru, Rift Valley Province of Kenya) area:

Acacia xanthophloea (Naivasha thorn or Fever tree)

Cordia africana

Callistemon citrinus (bottle brush)

Grevillia robusta (silky oak)

Eucalyptus saligna (Sydney blue gum)

Spathodea campanulata (Nandi flame)

The Naivasha thorn is in full bloom and I suspect that this is where the current nectar flow is predominantly coming from.  There are a considerable number of these trees in the area and they are all covered in an impressive display of yellowish white flowers.

Six hives are occupied with bees with a number having absconded during the dearth period leaving behind wax moth eaten combs.

Hive number 12, a KTBH yielded 2kgs of (delicious) honey o­n 30/8/2004.

Remaining colonies appear to be building up well and currently there is a smell of honey in the bee house from what I suspect is the Naivasha thorn as above.

For further information/photos of the apiary have a look at http://www.apiconsult.com/kiamunyi-apiary.htm

-----UNIDO Report o­n Kenyan Beekeeping-----

UNIDO Study o­n honey production and marketing development in Kenya by Marieke Mutsaers and Benson Muya – August 2004

The full information is available from UNIDO however I have summarized below:

There has never been a breakthrough in production (in Kenyan beekeeping) which has been blamed o­n socio-economic factors, a degrading environment and a slow change from traditional to modern technology.  However the consultant pointed out that beekeeping is more difficult in tropical climates due to:

• Day length pattern
• Climatic conditions
• Absence of a winter
• Lack of understanding of African bees
• Lack of understanding of seasonal development of honeybee colonies in different vegetative and climatic areas
• Lack of established seasonal management methods for these areas
• Lack of appropriate hive types in relation to seasonal development of honeybee colonies

However there are also advantages:

• Management in general can be reduced to a minimum, for example swarm control is simple
• Production costs are low – both equipment and labour are at low cost
• Local prices for honey are high

Other issues:

There is a lack of understanding of production apart from the older generation and this indigenous knowledge is being lost.  Younger and new beekeepers are less confident with these methods.  Extension specialists in beekeeping are also often missing this knowledge.

In summary appropriate technical beekeeping knowledge in very important in a successful beekeeping venture.

PS  UNIDO carried out a beekeeping stakeholders workshop in Nakuru in August 2004 to chart the way forward and develop a proposal to promote better beekeeping in Kenya.  More news o­n this as it develops.

-----Dates for your diary-----

·          Baraka Agricultural College, Molo, Kenya has a o­ne-week course o­n general beekeeping from November 1^st to 6^th 2004.  Please contact: baraka@sustainableag.org 

·          Apimondia Dublin, Ireland from 21^st to 26^th August 2005.  For further in formation please have a look at:  http://www.apimondia2005.com

Please Note:  If you run training courses o­n beekeeping in other countries please forward details to us to help you promote your service.

If you would like more information or have any questions/comments, please do not hesitate to contact us!

Best regards,
 
Tom Carroll
Apiconsult
The African Beekeeping Resource Centre
Web Site: http://www.apiconsult.com
E-mail:  info@apiconsult.com

Apiconsult
P. O. Box 3354
Nairobi
Kenya, East Africa.
Tel: 254 733 716948
Fax: 254 51 851526