Beekeeping in the tropics

Agromisa is a volunteer organization of students and graduates of Wageningen Agricultural University, in the Netherlands, and was established in 1934 with the aim of improving the life of socially and economically under-privileged groups in developing countries, by transferring agricultural knowledge to those working for their benefit. One of the methods of transferring this agricultural knowledge is by publishing a series of simple, low-priced manuals on agricultural practices in the tropics, entitled Agrodok. In collaboration with Agromisa, CTA has funded the translation of several publications in their Agrodok series. In 1987 two of these books were translated into French: La defense des sols contre ['erosion sous les tropiques (Tropical soil erosion control) and the most recent Beekeeping in the tropics. There are some 15 other titles available, including Soya Backyard rabbit farming in the tropics, Preparation and use of compost, and Small-scale preparation of dairy products. This booklet, Beekeeping in the tropics provides information on how to work with the western honeybee, Apis mellifera, with further notes on Apis cerana the eastern honeybee. It makes the point that, although the information is gathered from different parts of the world, the management of bees must be adapted to the species and race of bee, climate and vegetation. It is designed to take beginners through everything they need to know from simple recognition and practice to necessary techniques and identification and treatment of pests and diseases, with chapters on economics of beekeeping the composition of the colony, species and races of bees, daily life of the colony, practice, the first season, the harvest, wax, and pollen. However, the point is made emphatically that only by working for at least one year with an experienced beekeeper can the finer skills be learned. Beekeeping in the tropics was used at a seminar on care and management of bees for honey production, held in the Cook Islands between July 18 and 22 where experienced beekeepers from both public and private sector in the Pacific met to discuss the latest findings on beekeeping. Available from: CTA Box 380 6700 AJ Wageningen THE NETHERLANDSBeekeeping in the tropic