INTRODUCTION.
Apiculture is an important agricultural activity in the whole globe where honey, wax and other bee products are vital sources of food and income to many communities.It is also has useful medicinal properties and is often used as a traditional remedy for infections and many minor injuries where no other treatments were available.Wax is basic ingredient of a variety of goods including candles,skin creams and polishes all of which sold to enhance livelihood.
YOU KNOW?
There are live enzymes in honey.
When in contact with a metal spoon, these enzymes die.
The best way to eat honey is with wooden or plastic spoon.
Honey contains a substance that helps your brain work better.
Honey is one of the rare foods on earth that alone can sustain human life.
One teaspoon of honey is enough to sustain human life for 24 hours.
Propolis that bees produce, is one of the most powerful natural antibiotics
Honey has no expiration date.
The bodies of the great emperors of the world were buried in golden coffins and then covered with honey to prevent putrefaction.
The term “honeymoon” comes from the fact that newlyweds consumed honey for fertility after the wedding.
A bee lives less than 40 days, visits at least 1000 flowers and produces less than a teaspoon of honey in its lifetime.
One of the first coins had a bee symbol on it.
Deep gratitude to the humble BEE.
#beekeepingideas.com
IMPORTANCE/REASONS FOR BEE KEEPING.
The importance of Beekeeping
Beekeeping is the science and art of keeping bees using best practices. Beekeeping is very important, for the
production of honey, beeswax, propolis, pollen (bee bread), royal jelly and bee venom; for food, medicine
and income. Beekeeping is also important for pollination and recreational activities.
There are various reasons for keeping bees, namely:-
Conservation of natural resources
Beekeeping is a non destructive activity that could be employed in the conservation of biodiversity
in protected areas. Households living adjacent these areas can support the conservation efforts of
these resources by establishing apiaries within or at the boundary of these protected arearatures.
For cultural purposes.
Honey is used for beverage brewing and occasionally served at important cultural ceremonies such
as weddings. It is also served to very important guests as sign of high regard. The Maji Maji rebellion
used bees as a weapon to defend themselves against the colonialists. Honey was used in Egypt as
cosmetics and also for embalming the Egyptians dead pharaohs. Honey was among the tithes and
offertory given by the Jews to the Levites in their culture. In some African cultures honey is also used
to pay dowry.
As source of food.
Honey is delicious and nutritious. It is an important food for many people in Uganda. It is consumed
whole or mixed with other foods as supplement. Among the Langi and Acholi, honey is mixed with
simsim and groundnut paste. Bee brood (larvae and pupae) have high nutritional value and are fed to
malnourished children. Royal jelly and pollen are consumed for their high protein value.
As source of medicine
Bee products such as bee venom, honey and propolis are used for treatment of many conditions
following the antibiotic nature of the products. The conditions/diseases treated using bee products
include stomach upsets, diarrhea, vomiting, wounds, burns, cough, measles, false teeth, toothaches
and fungal infections. It also helps to boost the immunity of people living with HIV/AIDS.
For income generation
The honeybee products can be marketed locally or abroad to get money, with or without value
addition. Beekeeping industry also provides incomes to various stakeholders in the value chain.
These include bee farmers, artisans, pharmaceutical industry, food, beverage industry, honey dealers
among others.
Pollination
The honeybees provide pollination services, thereby playing a vital role in food production and overall
agricultural productivity. Over 75% of all the crops in sub Saharan Africa benefit from pollination.
Bees are considered the most efficient pollinators because they have hairy bodies which easily pick
up pollen grains as they move about in flowers. During a single day one bee may visit several hundred
flowers. So bees are important to farmers. More bees means better pollination and high yields. In
other countries pollination by bees is hired and fetches additional money to the beekeeper.
Types of Bees.
1)African wild bee.
[b]Has high flying power.
[c]They are more active in search for water and food and protection of hive.
[d]Fairly resistant to deseases and parasites.
[2]European bee.
[a]More gentle and larger than African wild bee.
[b]Less active and less aggressive.
[c]It susceptible to common bee deseases.
Bee colony.
Bee live in a colony also called a swarm.
A colony of bees is made up of the following;
[i] The Queen .
- This is the largest of all bees in the colony.
- There is only one Queen in any given bee colony referred to as the mother bee in the colony.
Functions.
1.Laying eggs .
2.Produces a queen substance called pheromone which keeps the colony together and for communication.
[ii] The Drones .
Drones are male bees and are usually about 300 in a given colony.Drones have longer and more hairy bodies than the worker bees .Drones do not have stings .
Functions of Drones.
[a] They fertilize the queens.
[b]They control the temperatures by flapping their wings at very high speed.
[iii]The worker bees.
They are sterile female bees in a colony and are about 60000 in number. They are the smallest in size.
Function of worker bees.
[a]They clean the hives.
[b]They nurse and feed the Queen,Drones and the brood.
[c]They build combs and seal the crevices and cracks in the hive.
[d] They protect the hive from intruders.
[e]They make honey and bee wax.
[f]They collect nectar,pollen grains’resins and water used to make honey.
SITING AN APIARY.
An Apiary is a place where beehives are placed.
Factors to be considered when siting the Apiary.
- Availability of water –Should be sited near the water source. If water is not available in a 3km radius, syrup/sugar solutions is placed close to the hives in containers.
- Availability of flowers –Should be sited near flowers for nectar collection.
- Well sheltered place- The beehives should be protected from strong sun and wind to protect the bees from absconding the hive.
- Away from noise and other disturbances to avoid swarming of bees.
- Away from human being and livestock –Should be sited away from homesteads,pastures and busy roads.