This year’s harvest-an experiment

Though small, the first harvest was successful. Colony management will improve next year’s harvest.

Lessons

• The area is viable for beekeeping project, and quality of honey obtained from the area is superb.

• Due to strong winds, placement of hives on stands may bring more yield than hanging them on trees

• Frame hives performed better than top bar hives.

• There are so many honeybee colonies in the area that allow for expansion of the project.

• There is a great need for provision of fence for the school, especially on the western side, to stop livestock from reaching apiary site and also allow regeneration of tree plants. For a start, a thousand tree seedlings for can do. After growing, the trees will form a live fence that can be reinforced by a barbed wire.

• There is a need for planting trees in the area to expand and enrich the available tree for provision of better environment and increase area for bee hives.

Suggested next steps

• The students should be involved in tree planting, especially the fence. They should be psychologically prepared to take up the tree planting, protecting and caring.

• An incentive should be planned for the students (and their supervising teachers). The initial idea is to plant

• Moringa oloifera (English: drumstick tree or horseradish tree) which is fast growing, drought tolerant and good for bees. Motivational sessions should be done during July – September, to prepare students plant trees any time it rains from October.

• The hives should be inspected in September to monitor development. The super boxes taken to Arusha with honey will be replace to the hives during this period. In case of severe draught the colonies will be provided with water.