Beekeeping in Rural Areas: International Development Research Centre

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Added: 2002-08-29 16:14

Modified: 2003-04-07 8:22

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Beekeeping in Rural Areas

Document(s) 10 of 14

Introduction
Impact
Potential users
Contact
Resources

Introduction

"Honey hunting," or gathering wild honey in the tropical rainforest, is a traditional activity in Malaysia from which beekeeping has slowly evolved. Honey and wax are widely used in medicine, as health food, and for traditional crafts such as batik. Malaysia only produces 3% of its local honey requirements. The rest is imported from Australia, China, and the United States. However, local honey at higher cost is preferred to the cheaper, imported honey. Honey hunting is therefore a lucrative business: expeditions into the rainforest bring in between $300 and $600 a day.

Researchers in Malaysia have developed technologies and methods to promote beekeeping as a cottage industry for rural small farmers and landless peasants. Currently, 1 000 Malaysians maintain about 5 000 bee colonies. Most of these beekeepers are small farmers who own either very little or no land at all.

The technologies that the research team developed include:

Methods of hive management using movable frames mounted in wooden boxes to control the production of honey, wax, and pollen;
Methods to control pests and disease;
Methods to treat and store honey;
Methods to breed and rear queen bees;
A technique for the mass rearing of carpenter bees for crop pollination;
An inventory of indigenous plants on which bees feed (in English and Bahasa Malaysia);
System to rear bees under coconut trees (called "coconut complex agro-ecosystem"). Bees can also be kept under coffee, pineapple, star fruit, and rubber trees, as well as in orchards. The pollination activities of the bees increase yields of orchards and other crops.

Beekeeping has been shown to increase a farmer's income by up to 50% under favourable conditions; it requires little capital outlay, no land, and is not labour intensive. It is particularly suited as an income-generating activity for women, young people, and the landless. During the study, it was found that revenue from honey sales reached US $2,160 per year; operating costs (labour, feed supplements, pest control, and bottles) cost $837. Net income was therefore $1,322.

A dissemination project was undertaken with the following components:

Publication of a manual on basic beekeeping, for semi-literate readers, in Bahasa Malaysia. The manual includes modules on hive design, catching wild colonies, hive management, honey collection, pest control, and the economics of beekeeping;
Two training programs: basic beekeeping (this course is mainly targeted at women living in coconut beekeeping areas), and a queen bee rearing course for more advanced beekeepers;
Field days, seminars, etc.

Impact

Establishment of annual honey-gathering ecotours - The tours promote conservation through tourism in Malaysia, as well as environmental education.

Development of techniques - Through research and field testing, a series of techniques and methods used by the rural poor to practice effective beekeeping have been devised.

New business promotion - Beekeeping as a cottage industry, and as a means of income generation is being promoted.

Establishment of an Asia-wide network - BEENET includes 12 countries (India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, China, and Papua New Guinea). Activities include information exchange, promotion of beekeeping, research and development in national programs, training, and dissemination of research results.

Potential users

NGOs, co-ops, small farmers, women's and youth groups, particularly in coconut-growing regions of Asia.

Contact

Dr. Makhdzir Marfan
Malaysian Beekeeping Research and Development Team
University Pertanian Malaysia
Faculty of Agriculture
43400 Serdang
Selangor, MALAYSIA
Fax: (60-3) 9483514
E-mail: makhdzir@agri.upm.edu.my

Resources

International Bee Research Association
Andrew Matheson, Director
18 North Road
Cardiff CF1 3DY, UNITED KINGDOM
Tel: (44) 01222 372 409/372 450
Web site: http://www.tcol.co.uk/comorg/ibra.htm

Kevan, Peter G., ed. 1995. The Asiatic hive bee: apiculture, biology and role. In Sustainable development in tropical and subtropical Asia. Guelph University, Enviroquest Ltd., Cambridge, Ont., pp. 271-291. ISBN: 0-9680123-0-2

Document(s) 10 of 14

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