Beekeeping

As an environmentally friendly way for rural communities to earn income from commonly available natural resources –bees and flowers – beekeeping is an exciting development opportunity. The keeping of bees and harvesting of honey are ancient practices throughout the world. Modern systems of beekeeping – also called apiculture – have been described as an art. Maintaining healthy, productive hives of bees certainly requires specialist knowledge, from construction of hives to protection of bees from disease and predators. This resource pack addresses will inspire listeners to consider beekeeping as a new venture, and offers lessons for existing beekeepers in good practice.

Technical information, pack usage details, resources and full scripts (PDF Format)

Nature conservation and income generation 5’02”

In North West Cameroon, improved methods of beekeeping are helping to protect forests and generate income.

Constructing top-bar hives 5’09”

How to make and use top-bar hives, following a model which is now standard in Malawi.

Protecting hives against predators and thieves 6’19”

How to make traditional beehives safe from predators such as honey badgers and red ants, and from thieves.

Improved hive management 4’46”

What beekeepers need to look for when they are inspecting their hives.

Essential beekeeping tools 5’23”

Making and using smokers and hive tools, and what to do if attacked or stung by bees.

Harvesting, honey extraction and packaging 5’51”

Careful harvesting of honey using the right equipment, plus extraction, filtering and packaging of honey.

Beeswax candles and creams 4’37”

How to make body creams and candles from beeswax.

Medicinal products from bees 3’58”

Use of honey, royal jelly and bee venom to make various medical remedies for problems such as ulcers and fungus.

Commercial pollination services 4’54”

A Zimbabwean beekeeper rents her beehives to farmers to improve the pollination of their crops.