 |
Conrad Bérubé |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| |
Conrad Bérubé |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
  |
| Farmserve Africa Farmer to Farmer volunteer report Higher incomes for beekeepers through
the Trip dates September 15, 2002 to October
16, 2002 Conrad Bérubé |
Coop characterisics:
How many members are in the coop?
how many members have hives?
how many members have colonies?
how is ownership of hives determined?
how many hives, on average are in each apiary?
how many hives are occupied by bees?
Do all members have access to the following:
Bee veil.... Yes............... No
Bee suit.... Yes............... No
smoker.... Yes............... No
Gloves...... Yes................No
Marketing:
what is the price for a liter of (improved) honey?_
what is the current annual income derived from the following bee products:
honey
beeswax
propolis
pollen
packaged bees
queens
Are any of the above crops currently subject to value added processing (list
how)?
Honey quality
Controllable factors:
Is the honey free of filtrable contaminants (wax, pollen, bee parts)?.... Yes............... No
is the honey smokey flovored?.... Yes............... No
is the honey packaged in clean receptacles?.... Yes............... No
does the honey have an attractive label?.... Yes............... No
Uncontrollable factors:
Is the honey dark?.... Yes............... No
is the honey medicine-flavored?.... Yes............... No
is honey a product with which the community has previous experience?.... Yes............... No
if "yes" to above how is honey currently used?
medicinal/tonic.... Yes............... No
as a topping/syrup.... Yes............... No
in beverages.... Yes............... No
Environment characteristics
At what times of year do bees collect pollen?
at what times of year do bees collect nectar?
at what times of year do bees swarm?
at what times of year are honey harvests made?
what materials are used to bait hives locally?
Apiary characteristics:
Fenced?.... Yes............... No
within sight of living quarters?.... Yes............... No
shaded?.... Yes............... No
protected from ants?.... Yes............... No
protected from brush fires?.... Yes............... No
protected from high winds?.... Yes............... No
good air and water drainage?.... Yes............... No
water source within 500m?.... Yes............... No
good forage within 500m?.... Yes............... No
protected from upset by domestic animals? yes no
Management:
How often are hives opened per year?
if more than "two" is answered above what management activities are
practiced? (check below)
brood-nest expansion.... Yes............... No
drift control.... Yes............... No
hive strength equalization.... Yes............... No
splitting.... Yes............... No
combining.... Yes............... No
swarm control.... Yes............... No
harvesting.... Yes............... No
feeding.... Yes............... No
comb storage yes no
Cultural:
Are there any traditional stories that you know about bees (like the anansi stories)?
___________
Are there any taboos associated with any of the bee products or honey-tapping?
___________
For more information on the farmer-to-farmer program write to
Farmserve Africa Program
OIC International 240 West Tulpehocken Street
Philadelphia, PA 19144
For more information on the Peace Corps visit the following website:
or write to:
Peace Corps
806 Connecticut Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20526
Or call (toll-free): 800-484-8580 or look up the local recruiting office under the government listings in your telephone directory.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|