BIBLIOGRAPHY


NADINES B. BULSO. MARCH 2006. Beekeeping Practices on European Bees
for Honey Production by Beekeepers in Baguio and La Trinidad, Benguet. Benguet State
University, La Trinidad, Benguet.
Adviser: Clifton D. Llanes, BS.
ABSTRACT

This case study was conducted to find out the practices of beekeepers in the care
and management of their colonies as well as their practices in budgeting and record
keeping. There were 34 beekeepers that were taken as respondents of this study. The
study was conducted in July 2005.

All the respondents were male with an average age of 45 years old and engaged in
the industry for 4 – 7 years. Majority were operating as single proprietorship with a few
on partnership basis. Most of them were managing less than ten colonies.
As to care and management practices, they supplement the bees with 60% + 40% water
solution in times of rainy days. They all use the Italian and Carniolan races of queen bees
for colony multiplication. Some of the beekeepers migrate their colonies to other sites
where the bees could find forage and away from pesticide spray. All of them had
problems on predators, parasites and diseases but the most serious problem was the mites
(Varroa Jacobsoni).

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When the queen is no longer productive, they re-queen by introducing a new or
reunite the colony to a stronger colony. In some cases, they leave the colony to produce
its own queen.

Honey produced is usually harvested once or twice a year between the months of
November to January using either purely manual method or a combination of manual and
mechanical method. Harvested honey are usually bottled at home.

The sources of funds for financing the operation was mostly from the beekeepers,
personal savings. Very few were practicing budgeting of funds because not all of them
were knowledgeable in preparing budget. The budget is usually based on their available
working capital. Those who practiced budgeting were also keeping records while
majority do not keep record because they just maintain a few colonies.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
i
Abstract. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
i
Table of Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
iii

INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1

Rationale of the Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3

Statement of the Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4

Objectives of the Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5

Significance of the Study…. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . …
5
Scope and Delimitation of the Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3
REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Beekeeping as Modern Occupation.....…………………………………
6

Profile of Some Beekeepers in the Philippines…………………………
10

Starting a Good Apiary as Requirement……………………………….
10

Care and Management of Colonies…………………………………….
11

Primary products in Beekeeping and Its’ Uses………………………...
11

Honey Harvesting and Processing……………………………………...
12

Traditional Practice of Bottling and Promotion of Honey……………..
13

Domestic Scenario on Honey………………………………………….
13

Bio-physical and Traditional Factors Affecting the success in

Beekeeping……………………………………………………………... 14
iii

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Beekeeping Operation: An Assessment and Policy…………………….
15

Definition of Terms…………………………………………………….
17
METHODOLOGY

Locale and Time of the Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .
23

Respondents of the Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
23
Research
Instrument…………………………………………………… 23
Data
Collection………………………………………………………… 24

Data Gathered . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
24

Data Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .
24
RESULTS AND DISCUSION

Profile of the Respondents………………… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
25

Form of Business Organization.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .
27

Membership to Organization…. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Number of Years Experienced in Beekeeping………. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
28

Number of Colonies Managed in the Apiary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29


Practices in Giving Food Supplement……. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
30

Feeding of Colonies with Artificial Pollen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ……... 31

Enhancement of Colony Growth and Development……… . . . . . . . . . .
32

Practices in the Care and management of the Queen…………………...
32

Practices in the Re-queening queenless Colony………………………..
34

Practices on Colony Migration…………………………………………
36

Plants Producing Nectar and Pollen…………………………………….
39

Practices in Management of Apiary…………………………………….
40
iv

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Perceptions
About
Pests,
Predators, and Disease ……………………...
45

Bio-physical Factors Affecting Honey production……………………..
47

Approaches in addressing of problems Encountered in the Operations..
49

Practices in Harvesting Honey………………………………………….
50

Grading System Used to Classify Honey from other Product………….
53

Marketing Practices of the Beekeepers…………………………………
53

Practices in Disposing Honey Reject…………………………………...
56

Sources of Additional Fund…………………………………………….
57

Reasons for not Borrowing of Additional Fund……………………….. 58
Budget
Preparation…………………………………………………….. 58

Record Keeping Practices………………………………………...…….
60

Assistance of Baguio and La Trinidad Beekeepers…………………….
62
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
63

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INTRODUCTION

Rationale of the study

In the past, our forefathers had been eating honey by collecting them in caves or
on tree trunks produced by wild honey bees. Now a days people are producing honey just
beside their homes. Honey production has become a popular past time and source of
income by some people.

According to Joel Magsaysay (a bee culture grower from Silang Cavite since the
late 1970’s), hundreds of Filipinos are now engaged in beekeeping activity for they found
the endeavor fascinating and profitable, which is why some are raising bees on
commercial scale.

At the initial stages in his beekeeping business, he discovered that the best specie
to culture in the Philippines is the European honeybee (Apis Melifera). According to him,
our country has a remunerative climate and lush vegetation, after only six to twelve
months honey can be harvested, and when harvesting starts the maintenance cost would
already be minimal. He said that harvesting must coincide with the pollen and honeyflow
seasons. It was stressed that the foundation of successful beekeeping is the construction
of a floral calendar particularly in the area in which bees will be kept. The floral calendar
covers periods in the year when plants and trees bloom profusely and provide an over
abundance of nectar and pollen as bees actively forage. He specified that a beginner
could produce 20-25 kilos of honey per colony while experienced beekeepers can
regularly harvest 30-40 kilograms. A family, working part-time as beekeeper, can raise
an additional P4, 000 to P5,000 per colony per year.
Beekeeping Practices on European Bees for Honey Production by Beekeepers in
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Technology employed in beekeeping is fairly simple. It only requires a person to
know the basic bee behavior and the flowering seasons in the area. Maslan (1988)
mentioned that success in beekeeping depends on factors such as; knowledge and skills in
beekeeping, knowledge on various honey plants and their blooming season, location of
apiary, purchase of foundation stocks, colony and apiary expansion, and system of
beekeeping. A similar statement was given by Sabas (2001), that success depends to
beekeepers in carrying out the standards of managing the colonies of bees and
maintaining favorable beekeeping environment as a whole.
The profitability of honeybee culture as a business depends partly on the behavior
of the beekeeper and partly on nature. Inadequate skills and training techniques,
ineffective methods employed on beekeeping, limited financing, in adequate knowledge
on post harvest-handling and processing, and limited knowledge on proper marketing
management of products are some factors that may affect the profitability of honey
production.

Beekeeping is an important component of agriculture. Aside from its nutritional
and economic contributions, it also contributes to ecological balance. This venture is
viewed as a potential industry (small-scale industry) for development in the localities
because it can provide employment to people in the rural communities. From a practical
standpoint, beekeeping can be a dependable agricultural occupation only when the
beekeeper has the technical know-how in beekeeping/honey production together with
effective marketing and financial management, and farm-record keeping skill.
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With the aforementioned rationale of the study, it is therefore relevant to study
the beekeeping management practiced by beekeepers in Baguio city and La Trinidad,
Benguet to document these practices so that concerned agencies could anticipate and
assess the form of assistance needed by the local honey producers. A breakthrough in
honey production in the locality would be possible through the effort of concerned
government agencies who will provide the needed trainings and financial support for the
local producers as pointed out by Wal (a local beekeeper from La Trinidad, Benguet).

Statement of the Problem

This study was conducted to answer the following questions related to the
practices of beekeepers in Baguio City and La Trinidad:
1. What are the beekeeping practices on European bees (Apis melifera sp.) for
honey production by beekeepers in Baguio City and La Trinidad, Benguet?
2. What form of honey do beekeepers produce and how do they promote and
market it?
3. What are the standard practices applied in grading of the honey product for
sale?
4. What kinds of pest, disease, predator, as well as biophysical factors affecting
the growth and development of colonies of bees in the apiaries, and to whom
the beekeepers approached to solve these problems?
5. What are the sources of additional funds used in the operation, and what
system is applied in budget allocation and in farm-record keeping?
Beekeeping Practices on European Bees for Honey Production by Beekeepers in
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Objectives of the Study
The general objective of this study was to find out the beekeeping practices on
European honey bees (Apis mellifera sp.) for honey production in Baguio city and La
Trinidad, Benguet.
Specifically the study aimed to:
1. know the demographic profile of beekeepers in the Baguio City and La
Trinidad
2. determine the production practices of beekeepers specifically on:
a. Care and management of colonies
b. Queen rearing and colony production
c. Preparation and lay outing of apiaries or migration sites
d. Harvesting of honey produce
3. Identify the form of honey produced and the system of promotion and
marketing used by the beekeepers.
4. Identify the available technology used in bottling and find out the standard
followed for grading processed honey products.
5. Identify the pest, disease, predator, as well as biophysical factors affecting the
growth and development of colonies of bees in the apiaries, and to whom the
beekeepers approached to solve these problems
6. Identify the sources of additional funds used in beekeeping operations, and
budget allocation systems and farm-record keeping practices.

Beekeeping Practices on European Bees for Honey Production by Beekeepers in
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Significance of the study

The result of this study would provide information that are necessary and useful
to assess the condition of the beekeeping industry to help the policy makers, project
implementers, cooperatives and associations formulate plans for the development of the
backyard honey production activities of the small producers into a commercial one.

Scope and Limitation

This study was confined to beekeepers in some parts of Baguio city and La
Trinidad, Benguet. It was focused on the production, marketing, and financial
management practiced of beekeepers specially on the European honey bees (Apis
mellifera sp.)
It includes the demographic profile of beekeepers, form of honey produced for
market (prime product), available technology used in grading and sorting of honey
produced, common problems encountered on pest, disease, predator, and biophysical
factors affecting their colonies and apiary. The sources of additional funds used in the
operation, and the budgeting and farm-record keeping practices of beekeepers.



Beekeeping Practices on European Bees for Honey Production by Beekeepers in
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REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Beekeeping as a Modern Occupation

Beekeeping is the act of culturing bees for honey production. It is considered as
one of the oldest form of insect culture. According to Wal (1996), the first known
evidence that early man robbed money from bees was found in the cave wall. This
practice of robbing honey from bee continued two thousand years until modern scientific
methods, which led to the culture of bees.

All through out ancient endeavor until the middle of the last century, bees were
kept only in a rudimentary fashion, there being little knowledge of its natural history and
what went on in the bee hives’ interior. Straw skips, log gums, or crude box-hives used to
house the bee colonies (Colting, 1998).

Recent developments such as creation of the movable-frame hive, bee comb
foundation and the colony extractor, however, have placed beekeeping a modern
occupation (Taco, 1998). The Introduction and modernization of beekeeping in tropical
Asia are being made like in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines Sri-
langka and some parts of Thailand (Matsuka et. al., 1998).

According to Wal (1996), there are three types of bees that are wide spread in
Asia. They are: Apis florae as “dwarf bees”, Apis dorsata as “giant bees”, and Apis
cerana. In the late 1900’s however, the European bees was introduced in the region.
Today, they are considered preferred stock due to their adaptability, gentleness, and great
honey-gathering ability. This European honeybee, scientifically known as Apis mellifera,
is considered the best honey producer because it thrives well in almost all countries of the
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world. For this reason, it is now the major source of commercial honey in the world
market.

The characteristics that make the European honey bee best suited for commercial
propagation are: 1) It maintains a prolific queen, 2) it has a gentle temperament, 3) it
swarm less frequently, and 4) it guards the hive vigilantly against enemies or pests.
In the study of Colting (1998), she stressed that one factor why research on indigenous
specie was not seriously pursued is due to the behavioral limitations of other honey bee
species particularly their practice of open air nesting which prevents their being kept in
man made hives for reasonable long periods. While hiving colonies (Apis mellifera) in
specially constructed containers (bee hive) is essential, this beehive type enables the
colonies to be manipulated.

According to Ananayo (1989), the introduction of culturing the European
honeybee in the Cordillera region is widely used to increase production specifically on
honey. Today, this specie is commercialized and gaining popularity and support among
local beekeepers of Baguio city and Benguet considering that it can adopt in our
geographical locations and also suit on our environment conditions that favor nectar and
pollen producing plants in our country sides which bloom almost year round.

There were certain plants producing nectar and pollen substance that bees forage.
These plants were found in the Cordillera region, which is considered the best and
promising area for the culture of honeybees. On the report of the Ecosystem Research
and Development Service (ERDS), these plants are: eucalyptus, calliandra, lithocarpus,
weeping willow, kakawate, golden shower, anchoan dilao, duhat, molave, etc. In addition
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to that, Ananayo (1989) has also identified other plants available in the area as: wild
sunflower, acacia, narra, coffee, citrus, mango, coconut, corn, chayote, and other weeds.

Bees are insects of the order Hymenoptera, which are feed on pollen and nectar.
They constitute a group of about 20,000 species throughout the world, known
taxonomically as the super family Apoidea. Honeybees of the genius Apis belong to the
family Apidea, a sub-group of this super family. All honeybee species are eusocial
insects, meaning they engage in favorable social activity like man.

Each member of the colony (Apis mellifera) like queen, thousands of workers, a
few hundred of drones does a division of labor and specialization in the performance of
biological functions. As an inherited behavior characteristic, all honeybee colonies tend
to rear their brood and store a certain amount of honey and pollen as their food reserve by
secreting the workers’ wax glands and store honey in the upper part of the comb. Beneath
it are rows of pollen-storage cells, worker broad cells, and drones broad cells. In that
order the groundnut-shaped queen cells are normally built at the lower edge of the comb.
The quantity of food stored depends upon several factors, including the seasonal
availability of forage, the workers population, the colony’s’ rate of reproduction, the
capacity of the nest, and other important inherited behavioral characteristics like the
colony’s natural site of construction.
Personal Factors

Based on the findings of Cabilitazan (1994), age was significantly related to the
development of improved farm practice implying that as age of people increase, the level
of adoption practice increases too. He further discussed that change in civil status affects
the perceptions of beekeepers / farmers because of additional responsibilities. We often
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find that the greater the number of dependent children, the heavier usually the income
burden because this means that the farmer has still to provide the economic securities to
the children and provide them with basic needs such as clothing, food, medicine, shelter,
and support them to school. These necessities affect the economic practice and eventually
divide their minds on whom and what to prioritize either on any income–increasing
program or sacrifice on some family necessities like health and education.
For Mahto (1989), farm practice is significantly related with farm size. He stated
that farmers’ adoptions of new technologies were significantly influenced by their socio-
economic background such sex, civil status, educational attainment, and membership in
organization and size of farm. Government support programs like credit, needed tools,
input materials and transportation were found readily available; however he said that
majority of farmers believed that technicians were inadequate. He cited that most serious
problems encountered by the farmers are: high interest rates of loans, lack of lending
agency, lack of processing technologies, low prices, and lack of transportation facilities,
lack of skills and lack of storage facilities. He also found out that problems encountered
by the respondents differ significantly in degree according to sex, civil status, educational
attainment and membership in organization. He further said that social factor,
environmental factors, government policies and services, and farmers’ perception on
technology affected positively certain production technologies.
In line with these findings, Mahto recommended that training on production
specifically on storage, protection against pest and diseases, grading, packaging and
marketing of cooperatives be undertaken.
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In many parts of the world, including several countries in Asia, commercial beekeeping
depends on moving the honeybee colonies to place where forage is abundant at certain
periods of the year. Such migratory beekeeping often calls for the colonies to be moved
several times a year. This approach is practicable only when the colonies are in movable-
frame hives, which can be transported without danger to the hives or the colonies
(Matsuka et. al, 1998).

Profile of Some Beekeepers in the Philippines
that Culture a Commercial Bee

According to Joel Magsaysay, as reported by Henrylito Tacio (1991), hundreds of
Filipinos are now engaged in beekeeping. Many of them found the endeavor fascinating
and profitable, which is why some are raising bees on commercial scale. On the report of
Ananayo (1989), there are 180 beekeepers in the Cordillera Region. They produce the
cultured honey and each has an average of five to nine colonies. On the other hand
Colting (1999), in an interview with PDI Northern Luzon Bureau, said that beekeeping is
still a fledgling industry in the Cordillera. It was specified that most of the country’s
beekeepers were from Mindanao.

Starting a Good Apiary as Requirements
Starting a colony needs an initial amount of 50,000.00 is required as working
capital. The best time to start is during summer because flowers are in bloom for
sufficient source of nectar and pollen. Bee colony should be procured from reliable
source. And it should be free from mites and diseases (Wal, 1996).

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Apiary or bee farms can bee placed anywhere, under of trees, in agricultural areas,
or even in urban places provided they are located near an area with abundant nectar or
pollen-producing plants apiary can be started provided that the following criteria are met:
1) The host plants should be located within three to eight kilometers radius of the apiary;
2) it should be near the source of clean water, to dilute honey and regulate the
temperature inside the beehive; 3) it should have enough wind breaks especially during
typhoon seasons; and 4) it should bee far away from areas with high pesticide/ insecticide
spray or usage. During the summer months, the colonies must be placed in shaded areas.
Likewise during cold months, it should be partially exposed to sunlight (ERDS, 1997).

Care and Management of Colonies
All management practices aimed at increasing honey yield, either directly through
colony migration, adding honey suppers and harvesting, or directly by stimulating early
colony growth, swarm control, feeding during off-season and pest and disease control.
Higher productivity, when compared to well manage topbar hives however, only results
from the reusability of the combs and the possibility of migratory beekeeping due to
better comb stability (Dangle et. al., 2000).

Primary Products in Beekeeping and Its Uses

Laguidan (2000) specified that honey is the primary product produced from
beekeeping, comprised of substance collects by bees from nectars or honeydew from
forage plants. Likewise, the types of honey are the creamed, crystallized, chunk or comb.
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Beekeepers can also produce or extract such natural products as propolis, royal jelly, bee
venum, bees’ wax and pollen, which serve as staple food for honeybee.

Sabas Gemma (2001) cited that in the Cordillera particularly in the Baguio City
and Benguet Province, honey is consumed as fillings for bread, sweet potatoes, ube and
other root crops and it is also as a mixture for wine. She further said that the production
of honey nowadays doesn’t sustain the demand of honey on local market and this result
to the availability of adulterated honey found on local market.

Honey Harvesting and Processing
Centrifugal extraction allows quick processing of the large quantities and
produces honey with the least amount of contamination by the other hive materials. The
handling of large quantities allows other processing technologies that foster the
production of a uniform product with high control of quality standards. And usually,
cleaver people tried to develop equipment to make the uncapping, extracting, pumping,
filtering, and bottling procedure more convenient-even easy.
Mr. Tayaotao (an experienced beekeeper and president of Pines beekeepers
cooperative from La Trinidad, Benguet) mentioned that old processing equipment was
made from galvanized tin with lead solder joints, solid equipment that was built to stand
years of heavy use. He added that early extractors were powered by low compression
gasoline engines, extracting was done in a yard-an idea that should probably be revisited.
Now, commercial beekeepers use of stainless steel with welded joints big extractor.

According to Dangle (2000), many Harvesting methods are available to separate
bees from their honey. Combs can be taken out at a time and shaking and brushing may
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remove bees. The use of super instrument can clear off bees in the frames with strong air
blower. An inner cover or special board with a one-way bee escape can be placed below
the honey super. Up to one deep, two shallow supers can thus be cleared in 24 hours, if
enough space is available below. This Method cannot be recommended if colonies are
sitting unprotected in the sun, which might melt the combs in the low unventilated supers.
None of these methods can contaminate harvested honey.


Traditional Practice of bottling
and Promotion of honey


Beekeeper respondents have mentioned that the early traditional practices of
honey producers that they used of 4X4, round post, and catsup containers, in packaging
honey products. But nowadays, beekeepers or processors became aware of product
competition so they make use of more a practical and innovative way of packaging. Most
beekeepers purchase bottle containers from a known seller in the locality, while others
just simply promote their products by using wallpapers, sign boards. However, to others,
they prefer to use high gloss label (paper label) on their products considering that a
printing cost also requires also thousand of pesos that need to be set for budget for that
producers who wants to establish and seeks a better market on their products.

Domestic Market Scenario on Honey

Honey and other honeybee products have always been in demand and such
products command exorbitant prices. Juanengo (1994) as cited by Colting (1998) stated
that honey or natural honey production in the Philippines is not enough to meet local
demand that resorted to a significant importation. She further stated that the export was
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more than 121 tons at a total cost of P328, 187,323. Magsaysay as reported by Mr. Tacio
(2000) also said that although domestic market for bee products-which exceeds
P1Million in sales everyday-is already being developed and expanded.

Bio-physical and Technical Factors: A Hindrance
to Success in Beekeeping


According to Wal, (1996), in the Cordillera region, there were six selected
problems that were encountered by beekeepers or the honey producers and these are
caused by the seasonality of honey flow, (there are food shortage on nectar and pollen
substance for honey); lack of coordination among cut flower and vegetable farmers
resulting to poisoning of field bees; thieves on hives including bees and its’ products;
swarming of worker bees, drones, and queen that leaves the mother colony (a nature’s
way of increasing the number of bee colonies); non availability of nucleus colonies; and
pests and pest and diseases.

Aside from these Maslan (1997) identified certain factors affecting the
beekeepers’ production and operations are: the lack of knowledge and skills in
beekeeping. Other than these, Laquidan (1995) also mentioned the limited financing,
scarcities of technical or poor knowledge for processing and marketing of bees’ products.
Knowledge on various honeys plants and their blooming season, location of apiary,
purchased of foundation stocks, colony and apiary expansion, and system of beekeeping.

Again, Maslan (1997) specified that the Cordillera region lack roads, which mean
that the marketing system and news is limited. Along with inadequate information as
factors it led to low demand and supply of honey in the market.
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It was reported in the Marid Bullitin (1992), a similar condition regarding the
poor and inadequate road networks make farm inputs costly and produces price low. This
is the reason on lack of vehicle, which also leads to high post harvest losses and limited
access of technological information of local farmers.

Extension Services and Training
Requirements of Beekeepers

There is a need for individual beekeepers to be technically knowledgeable on
beekeeping, in a way of assisting the colony of honeybees in order to facilitate the rearing
of broad needed in the production of honeybee products, queen and for colony
multiplication. He added that beekeepers should be interested in intensive management of
hive, capable of handling in a particular technology, and not avoiding spend money on
inputs of any kind preferring to make their own apiary a better, (Sito 2000).

On the report of Mayer (1982), he discussed the major concerns of operations
personnel or producer to maximize the probability that good or service will be produced
at the lowest possible cost. He said that concerned personnel will have to carry the
following series of steps on management: a) To produce goods or service in quantities
and at times which will satisfy the demand for the item, b) to produce goods or services at
a lowest possible cost, c) to produce a goods or services of satisfactory quality, d) ability
to forecast future demand for a product, which may earlier or a good service e) procuring
the required factors of production f) Translating the forecast into an equivalent demand
for various factors of production g) utilizing those factors of production to produce the
product.
Beekeeping Practices on European Bees for Honey Production by Beekeepers in
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In addition, Tagarino (1989) have enumerated specific concerns regarding
production-based agribusiness opportunities that should provided to a farmers such as:
availability of financing schemes for prospect venture, provision of material inputs,
availability of economic incentives and support, availability of technical support in terms
of research and extension, and availability of market assistance are the specific priorities.

Beekeeping Operation: An assessment and policy
Matsuka et. al. (1998), says that about 75% of the evaluated projects on
beekeeping have a little or no impact on the local beekeeping industry (355 filed totally).
According to them, most projects worked well as long as experts or volunteers were in
place and in most cases this changed immediately after their departure or when the
project was phased out. Among the many reasons identified for the failure of projects, the
following are of special interest:
1) Sector policies at the national level: government shows a little interest in
supporting the beekeeping industry.
2) Feasibility study: the value of traditional beekeeping system, their importance
in the rural economy, and their social value were not profound analyzed.
3) Project planning: Bees and beekeeping techniques were the main focal points
instead of the people and their potentials, capability, and interest for beekeeping.
4) Economic viability: The profit margins people might earn through beekeeping
were highly over estimated. Natural resources and absorbing capacity of markets were
not properly analyzed. A time horizon of the projects and backstopping time for the
implementation was to short and monitoring and follow-up was not done properly.
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5) Professionally of agencies: In most cases, extensionists were not practical
beekeepers, but theoreticians and modernists. This resulted in low confidence among
rural people and ineffective extension services. Technology and know how transfer: Most
projects assumed that existing traditional system were not predisposed to developing, and
concentrated mainly on changing them in a short time and with big steps. The level of
applied appropriate technology was extremely low.
6) Factor costs: Inputs used to develop the industry were expensive, non-
appropriate and not available at the village level.

Definition of Terms

Apiary is a beekeeping site where the colonies are being cultured.
Apiculture input refer to sugar, medicines, protective coating, hive tools, processing
facilities, and colony stocks.
Apis mellifera is also called the European honeybees. It is considered the best honey
producer.
Backyard beekeepers These are the respondents of the study that culture European (Apis
mellifera sp), a commercialized honeybee raised purposely for honey
production. This classification of beekeeper has a character to fulfill an interest
by supplementing his /her main source income as sideline beekeeping.
Beehive box. It is commonly constructed using the wood material and flat sheet
aluminum and forming it into a rectangular shape or box. These beehives are
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18
classified as nuc-B framer (for confining small population of colony), 5-frames,
and the 10-framer beehive or standard hive box.
Colony refers to a hundreds of bees’ workers and nurse bee, few drones and one queen
bee that are confined into one beehive box.
Colony migration refers to moving or transferring colonies from one locality to another
or by few kilometers away from the main apiary during a single season so that
advantage can be taken of two or more nectar flows.
Comb honey. It is a honey that is produced in small wooden or plastic sections.
Concern agency refers to an Institution or organization, which is responsible in
provisions of apiculture extension services, conducting activities that are carried
out in the localities. Its task is providing apiculture training and demonstration
to beekeepers.
Creditors or lending institution located at the locality that is responsible for providing
loans to beekeepers through cooperatives.
Development assistance is a kind of activity designed to uplift the living conditions of the
farmer. It usually considers the situation, objectives, problems, methodologies,
resources, organization, projects, and the solutions of a given problems, as well
as the strategies of implementation.
Extractor refers to a machine that rotates honeycomb at sufficient speed to remove honey
from the cells by a centrifugal force.
Extracted honey refers to honey that has been separated from the comb by centrifugal
force, gravity, straining, or by other means. It may be appear in the market in
different form: a) liquid honey, a honey that is visible form crystals. B)
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Crystallize honey, a honey completely granulated or solidified, including
products known as “candied”, “fondant”, and “spreads” type of honey.
Field bees. Worker bees, which are usually 21 or more days old and work in the field to
collect nectar, pollen, and propolis.
Financial practices an action undertaken by beekeeper to in sourcing of additional funds.
This includes the practice on budget allocation for the specific operations.
Form of business ownership refers to the register or non-registered form of business
ownership. The respondents may operate solely or in partnership.
Grading system refers to method of grading or classifying the honey produced. It is the
technologies apply during the bottling process of honey to classify it from other
products. The respondents use an apparatus that indicates the moisture content
of honey or by using assorted size of bottles to standardize their products.
Respondents used either manual type or combination of both manual and
mechanize.
Honey refers to a sweet viscous liquid prepared by bees from nectar collected from plant
nectarines and stored by them for food.
Honey flow refers to the fluvial season where abundance for the source of nectar and
pollen by various plant species is sufficient that bees gather and store the nectar
and convert it to honey.
Locality refers to division of zone in Baguio City and Benguet province. Each has a
complete act of political, administrative and development units in it.
Management practices refer to skillful use of means to accomplish purposes. It is the
utilization of human and material resources to accomplish assigned objectives.
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Marketing practices refers to the kind of services rendered by the beekeepers particularly
to direct-consumers or individual buyers of honey. These require usage of
resources and effort such as creating marketing promotion and establishing
effective marketing centers in the area. Others make use of help from other
institution or cooperatives in the localities of Baguio-Benguet. It is an action
employed before and after honey harvesting.
Mode of harvesting facility refers to equipment or materials used by the respondents in
Harvesting.
Foraged substance. It is a foraged syrup (nectar) and solid (pollen) substance by visiting
bees into a flower and carried it away to that stock into food frames which is
usually harvest by beekeeper when the frames are filled or matured.
Pests, diseases, and predators refers to the encountered elements in the beekeeping
operation that the respondents determined neither it is a serious no serious
problem.
Pollen substitute as food supplement for colonies. It is consist of soybean flour, fortified
with pollen. This food substitute is used entirely to replace natural pollen
necessary in the development and growth of colonies in the spring, but also
during other periods of the year.
Pricing system refers to set price by organization as a basis of respondents in imposing
the monetary value of their honey.
Production practices refer to production method, technical skills employed by beekeeper
on their beekeeping operations. This employed technology is either standard
(recommended practice) or innovation by beekeeper.
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Promotion is the way of respondents to in initiating the name of their products’ identity
(physical appearance) to be known in the public to attract customers.
Protective coating refers to furnished paint in a commercial establishment. This is being
applied in the outside covering of the beehive materials to serve as protection
for insects’ attack and heavy exposure to sunlight and rains.
Queen bee refers to accepted mother of the colony. It is also the most important caste
because she is responsible for the procreation of bees.
Queen rearing refers to applied method or technique to produce new queen bee use for
colony production by a respondent into his/ her apiary.
Queen-lees colony refers to a colony without a queen.
Record keeping refers to act of recording the beekeeping operations using either single
entry (logbook) or double entry (general journal). It is more systematic in a
way by putting into a paper document, a better means of medium to monitor
the operation than imagining how much or how many inputs were used and
how much is the cost of operation etc.
Farm-record keeping. It is a systematic recording of operations, it is being written into
book entry either by using logbook or formal recording (general ledger). The
records present the visual performance of the beekeeping operations.
Schedule for inspection the apiary. It is set day intended for ocular inspection on apiaryto
inspect the colonies’ growth and performance, status of queen and presence
of pest, disease, and predators that will affect the colonies to determine the
needed to bee kinds of assistance or maintenance to be extended for colonies.
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Systematic budgeting. It refers to systematic allocation of funds on the specific
necessities and obligations of business, which are being prioritized in the
future actions. The estimated amount is therefore forecast by beekeepers; it is
different to traditional because it requires keeping of past and present status of
financial expenses of operations.
Wind breaks refer to a specially constructed fence or natural barriers to reduce the force
of the wind in an apiary.
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METHODOLOGY

Locale and Time of the Study



The research study was conducted in Baguio city and La Trinidad, Benguet.
These locations were centers of the apiculture industry for development in the region.
The study was conducted from July to December 2005.

Respondents of the Study

The respondents of this study were 34 beekeeper of European honeybees (Apis
mellifera sp.) operating either as sole-proprietorship or partnership and producing honey
on a commercial scale.

Research Instrument

A survey questionnaire was used by the researcher to gather empirical data and
relevant information from prospected respondents. A combination of open and close-
ended type and selection type of questions were used for the respondents to answer freely
as possible. Then, a direct field observation on colonies and apiaries is also done to
further compliment and clarify gathered data from the respondents.

Data Collection
The questionnaires were floated to prospected beekeepers, and then these were
retrieved during the interview with these respondents.

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Data Gathered

The data gathered were:
1. Demographic profile of beekeepers in the study area,
2. Production practices of beekeepers specifically on:
a. Care and management on colonies of bees
b. Queen rearing and colony production
c. Preparations and lay outing of apiaries or migration sites
d. Harvesting of honey that produced by bees,
3. Form of honey produced and the system of promotion and marketing
employed by the respondents,
4. Available technology used in bottling and sorting of honey products,
5. Kinds of pest, disease, predator, as well as biophysical factors affecting the
growth and development of colonies of bees in the apiaries, and to whom the
beekeepers approached to solve these problems
6. Sources of additional funds used in beekeeping operations, and budget
allocation systems and farm-record keeping practices.

Data Analysis
The data was tabulated and interpreted by the researcher according to the
objectives of the study using frequency distribution, percentage, and mean.
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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Profile of the Respondents

The profile of the respondents is presented in Table 1. There were 12 or 35.29%
with ages 40-50 years old, 11(32.35%) belonged to the 29-39 years old bracket, 8
(23.53%) belonged to the 18-28 years old, two (5.88%) belonged to the 51-61 years old,
and only one belonged to the age bracket 62-72 years old.

Majority (76.47%) of the respondents were male and few are females (32.53%).
Most (73.53%) of them were married and nine (26.47%) were single. Majority (70.59%)
had a household size of 4 –7 family members. Most (76.65%) of them have finished a
college degree while 17.65% reached high school level, and two respondents finished
elementary.

As to occupation of respondents, 14 or 35.29% were engaged in farming of cut
flowers and vegetables. Eight (23.53%) respondents were employed in private
establishments or institution and their jobs are: Cooperative heads, technicians of the
same work related to beekeeping operation. Seven (20.29%) respondents were
government employees working as: Teachers, Librarians, Engineers, and as Agriculture
extension researchers. Four respondents were self-employed and ventured into upholstery
shop, operator or driver of public utility vehicles (PUJ’s), and mangers of “sari-sari”
stores (retailers). Two (5.88%) of the respondents are still pursuing their college
education but they finance their beekeeping operations through the financial assistance of
their parents. This finding reveals that the beekeepers were not full time beekeepers but
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have their main jobs and beekeeping is just their secondary source of income. This shows
that honey production could be a source of additional income for the family.

Table 1. Profile of the respondents
PARTICULAR FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE
a. Age


18 – 28
8
23.53
29 – 39
11
32.29
40 – 50
12
35.29
51 – 61
2
5.88
62 – 72
1

Total
34
100
b. Sex


Male
26
76.47
Female
8
23.53
Total
34
100
c. Civil Status


Married
25
73.53
Single
9
26.47
Total
34
100
d. Educational Attainment


Elementary
2
5.88
High School
6
17.65
College
26
76.47
Total
34
100
e. Household size mean = 6


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Form of Business Organization
Table 2 shows that 30 or 88.24% of the beekeeper respondents operates as sole
proprietorship, while 4 or 11.76% operates as partnership to sufficiently finance their
operation and can provide more attention on beekeeping operations specifically on
multiplication of colonies and production of honey.

Table 2. Form of business ownership

FORM FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE (%)
Sole/ proprietor 30 88.24
Partnership 4 11.76
Total 34 100.00


Membership to Organization
Table 3 presents that beekeepers were members of organizations or cooperatives.
These organizations provide financial assistance, technical training, as well as supplies
needed by the beekeepers. Non-members do not enjoy these benefits; they rely on their
own resources and knowledge.
The finding shows that 10 or 29.41% of the respondents were members of Pine
Beekeepers Cooperative, while 6 or 17.65% were members of SLU-EISSIF, 5 (14.71%)
were members of COBOWAI Cooperative, 2 (5.88%) each were members of Mirason
Cooperative, Buguias Cooperative, and BEENET Philippines. Only one respondent was a
member of BAPI Cooperative. There were six (17.65%) respondents who were not
members of any organization.
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This result indicates that some respondents were members of more than one
organization.

Table 3. Membership of beekeepers to cooperatives or organizations
COOPERATIVES /ORGANIZATIONS FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE
Pine Beekeepers Coop
10
29.41
SLU-EISSIF
6
17.65
COBOWAI
5
14.71
MIRASON 2

5.88
BABI 1

2.94
BBC 2

5.88
BEENET PHIL.
2
5.88
None 6
17.65



Number of Years of Experience in Beekeeping

Table 4 shows that 14 or 41.18% of the beekeepers were engaged in the industry
for the past 3 years which shows that they were just beginners. There were 11 or 32.35%
respondents who have been operating for 4 -7 years, while three or eight or 8.82% of the
respondents have been operating for 8–11 years and six or 17.65% of the respondents
have been operating for 12 –15 years. This finding implies that most of the respondents
are just new in the industry.


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Table 4. Number of years experienced in beekeeping production
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE
1 – 3
14
41.18
4 – 7
11
32.35
8 – 11
3
8.82
12 – 15
6
17.65
Total
34
100


Number of Colonies Managed in the Apiary
Table 5 reveals that 22 (64.71%) of the respondents were presently managing
below 10 colonies only, and almost one-third (11) of the total respondents were managing
11–54 colonies. Only one respondent managed above 54 colonies.

This result supports the earlier finding that majority of the beekeepers are still
beginners or new in the industry.

Table 5. Number of colonies managed in the apiaries
NUMBER OF COLONIES
FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE
10 below
22
64.71
11 – 21
5
14.71
22 - 32
2
5.88
33 - 43
1
2.94
44 – 54
3
8.82
Above 54
1
2.94
Total
34
100

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Practices in Giving Food Supplement

Since the stored honey in the food frames is not sufficient to sustain bees during
rainy seasons the beekeepers have to supplement the bees with sugar-solution or
soybeans, for wax comb building and brood rearing purposes. The finding shows that all
the respondents used sugar solution as feed supplement but only 4 or 11.76% used soy
beans. For economic or other reasons, some of the respondents used lesser concentration
of sugar and feed the bees once every two weeks. However, majority feed the bees once a
week and used 60% sugar + 40% water solution for wax comb building, while 20 or 58%
used this mixture for brood rearing. Since sugar is costly, some of the respondents used a
lesser concentration such as 40% sugar + 60% water or 50% sugar + 50% water. Majority
of the respondents feed their bees once a week (Table 6).

Table 6. Practices in giving food supplement to the bees
PARTICULAR FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE
a. type of Food Supplement


Sugar solution
34
100
Soybeans
4
11.76
b. Sugar solution/Purpose
WAX COMB BUILDING
BROOD REARING

F
% F %
60% Sugar+ 40 Water
18
52.94
20
58.82
40% Sugar+ 60% Water
8
17.65
4
11.76
50% Sugar+ 50% Water
2
2.94
4
11.76
2 part sugar + 1part water
6
26.47
6
17.65
Total
34
100
34
100
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Table 6. Continued ….
c. Time of application
WAX COMB BUILDING
BROOD REARING

F
% F %
Once a week
30
88.24
33
97.06
Twice a week
3
8.82
-
-
Once every 2 weeks
1
2.94
1
2.94
Total
34
100
34
100


Feeding of Colonies with Artificial Pollen

The result shows that aside from the sugar solution used as food supplement to the
bees, very few of the respondents feed artificial pollen. They used soybeans or other food
substitutes to stimulate brood rearing of the bees. Table 7 show that 30 or 88.24% of the
respondents do not use the soybeans or other food substitutes to stimulate brood rearing
because it is not easy to prepare as compared to white sugar solution. Only few (11.76%)
of the respondents claimed that they applied the soybean during the months of scarcity of
pollen to avoid the grievances of bees on food, and to steadily maintain their population
growth and development.


Table 7. Application of soybean syrup on colonies as pollen substitute

FOOD SUPPLEMENT
FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE
Apply soybeans syrup
4
11.76
Not apply
30
88.24
TOTAL 34
100

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Enhancement of Colony Growth
And Development
Inorder to facilitate the growth and development of colonies, the beekeepers have
to introduce measures of hive assistance. The practices as presented in Table 8 were as
follows: adding of empty combs (wax foundations), reducing or increasing hive entrance,
replacing old queen bee, colony splitting, colony compressing, brood supporting rehiving
of beehives, and arranging frames in hive boxes. The first and the last two practices
mentioned were the most commonly adopted by all the respondents.


Table 8. Major forms of assistance that are usually extended on colonies for it’s’ growth
and development

PARTICULARS F
%
Adding of empty comb (brood /food storage)
34
100
Reducing & increasing hive’ entrance
26
76.47
Replacing of aging (old) or failing queen bee
25
73.53
Colony splitting
25
73.53
Colony compressing
24
70.59
Rehiving beehives
34
100
Brood supporting
21
61.76
Arranging of brood & food frames
34
100


Practices on the Care and Management of the Queen

This section consists of the acquisition of queen stock, strains of bees reared for
queen, and techniques used for queen rearing,
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Acquisition of queen stock. Table 9 reveals that 22 or 64.71% of the respondents
raised their own queen bee, while 11 or 32.35% said they purchased it from queen
producers. These were the new beekeepers who still lack the skill or have limited skill in
queen bee rearing. Five or 14.71% of the respondents said they rear their queen and they
only purchase queen stocks from fellow beekeepers during emergency conditions (dead
queen and unprolific queen condition) to maintain the growth and development of a
queen-less colony.
Strain of bees reared for queen. The table shows that (61.76%) and (55.88%) of
the beekeepers respectively rearing the Italian and Carniolan races of queen bees,
respectively for colony production. Only one respondent says that he also reared or used
the Hawaian and Australian hybrids, which were not common to many beekeepers. Six
(17.65%) of these respondents could not determine the kind of queen stock they used
because they were not familiar on available queens offered by fellow beekeepers.

Technique used for Queen Rearing. According to Sito (1995), bees will produce
queen under the stimuli of: 1) supersedure, (2) swarming, and (3) emergency conditions.
Table 9 shows that many (47.18%) of the respondents commonly applied the
supersede technique for colony production. On the other hand, 10 (23.53%) of the
respondents practiced the “do little method”, there were six (17.65%) of the respondents
who also applied “grafting method”. However, eight (14.71%) of the respondents did not
respond on the question. These were the respondents that do not produce or rear their
own queen bee.
The result shows that there is not one common technique applied among
beekeeper for queen rearing.
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Table 9. Practices of the respondents in care and management of the queen
PARTICULAR FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE
a. Acquisition of queen stock


Rear own queen
22
64.71
Purchase queen for colony
11
32.35
Rear own queen and purchase also queen
5
14.71
b. Strain of bees reared for queen


Italian race
21
61.76
Carniolan race
19
55.88
Hawaiian breed
1
2.94
Australian breed
1
2.94
Not familiar with the strain
6
17.65
c. Techniques for queen rearing


Supercedure
14
47.18
Doo little method
10
29.41
Grafting
6
17.65
No response
8
23.53


Practices on Re-Queening Queenless Colony
Table10 reveals that the common technique applied by most respondents
(79.41%) is to introduce a new queen bee into a queenlees colony, and then observe if it
is accepted within the beehive. Another practice was re-uniting or mounting of the said
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colony into a well populated colony (stronger colony) that can maintain this queenless
colony during the absence of the queen as pointed out by 64.71%. The third practice was
to leave it and allow this queenless colony to produce its own queen as done by 35.29%.
This technique is applied only when the beekeepers have the knowledge on the
conditions of the said queen-lees colony to prevent it from swarming.

Period of Re-queen. According to Baldo (1995), the queen bee can have a life
span of up to 5 years. However her life span depends on her sperm counts and the kinds
of assistance that beekeeper employ on her colony.
There were 15 or 44.11% of the beekeepers who usually re-queen every two
years, and there were 22 (35.29%) who mentioned that they re-queen yearly. Only two
(5.88%) have mentioned that they replaced their queens twice a year. The six (19.44%)
beekeepers said that they re-queen anytime if they observe that the queen can no longer
procreate bees in the colony. This finding shows that all the respondents re-queened in
less than five years and they do not wait for the five years life span of the queen as
mentioned by Baldo.

Reasons for Re-queen. The more popular reasons for re-queen are due to the
aging condition of queens as indicated by 27 (79.41%) respondents, and also the low egg-
laying capacity of queens as reasoned by 26 (76.47%) respondents. This partly explains
why they do not wait for the queen to age up to 5 years as this would mean a decline in
her productivity. Half of these respondents have claimed they accidentally killed their
queens during manipulation or treating and feeding application on colonies (Table 10).


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Table 10. Practices on re-queening queenless colonies
PARTICULAR FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE
a. How a queenless colony is re-queened


Introduce new queen if there’s available
27
79.41
Unite it to stronger colony
22
64.71
Allow to produce its own queen bee
12
35.29
b. Interval of re-queening


Yearly
12
32.29
Twice a year
2
5.88
Every two years
15
44.11
As the need arises
7
20.59
c. Reasons for re-queening


Old or aging condition
27
79.41
Have low egg laying capability
26
76.47
Accidental death during colony
17
50.59


Practices in Colony Migration
Practices in colony migration as presented in Table 11 includes the number of
respondents that migrated their colony and those that did not, their reasons for migrating
and not migrating, the best time for migrating the colonies, and the distance of migration
site.
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Practicing and not practicing migration of colonies. Table 11 reveals that
majority (20 or 58.82%) of the respondents do not practice colony migration while only
14 or 41.18% practiced colony migration.
Reasons for migrating. The respondents who migrate their colonies moved them
to a nearby locality or to the low lands where abundance of plants producing pollen and
nectar is believed to be sufficient for bees to have better forage to increase honey yield.
The other reason for moving their colonies were as follows: to avoid exposure of colonies
to pesticides by 42.86%, for pollen production by 28.57%, to avoid food competition on
colonies by35.71%, for expansion of colonies by 14.29%, and for crop pollination by
only 7.14%. This finding shows that aside from honey production, the beekeepers have
varied reasons in migrating their colonies.

Reasons for not migrating. As for the 20 respondents that did not practice colony
migration, they had varied reasons for not doing it. The most prevalent reason is the high
cost of migration of colonies to other place (38.23%). Next is the un-availability of land
as an alternative site to culture the colonies (32.35%). Third is the abundance of food
sources (plants producing substance like nectar and pollen, and propolis) in the present
apiary (23.53%). And the last is the lack of knowledge on migrating or moving of bees
as well as its being time consuming as reasoned by one respondent.
Best time for migrating the colonies. There were eight or 57.14% of the
respondents who preferred transporting of colonies as early as 6:00 to 9:00 o’clock in the
early morning, while four (28.57%) preferred in the late afternoon (3:00 to 6:00 O’clock
P.M.), and two (14.29%) respondents preferred past 6:00 O’clock in the evening.
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Finding shows that all respondents who migrated their colonies avoid transporting
from 9:00 to 12:00 O’clock in the late morning and 12:00 to 3:00 O’clock in the early
afternoon because they wanted to prevent the colonies from heat exposure that could
cause stress among the bees.

Distance of migration site . Six (42.85%) of the respondents said that they
migrated their colonies about 8 to 13 Kilometers away from the main apiary. Three
(21.42%) respondents claimed that they moved their colonies just less than 1 kilometer,
and another 21.41% of the respondents say that the colonies were moved from 2 to 7
kilometers away from the original location of apiary. Only 14.23% of the respondents
have mentioned that they migrate their colonies more than 13 kilometers away.
This implies that majority of the respondent have practice migration only to a
place where they find available land to culture their colonies.

Table 11. Practice and reasons for migrating and not migrating colonies
MIGRATION OF COLONIES
FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE
Practiced migration
14
41.18
Do not practice migration
20
58.82
REASONS FOR MIGRATING


For crop pollination
1
7.14
For honey production
14
100
For pollen production
4
28.57
To avoid food competition on colonies
5
35.71
Avoid exposure of colonies to pesticide
6
42.86
For expansion of operation
2
14.29
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Table 11. Continued…
REASONS FOR NOT MIGRATING
FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE
No available site for colony migration
11
32.35
High cost for migration
13
38.23
Lack of knowledge
1
2.94
Abundance of food source in the present apiary
8
23.53
It is time consuming
1
2.94
BEST TIME FOR MIGRATING


6 to 9 O’clock A.M.
8
57.14
3 to 6 O’clock P.M.
4
28.57
Past 6 O’ clock P.M.
2
14.29
DISTANCE OF MIGRATION SITE


Below 1 kilometer away
3
21.42
2 to 7 Kms. Away
3
21.42
8 to 13 Kms. Away
6
42.85
Above 13 Kms. Away
2
14.23



Plants Producing Nectar and Pollen Substance
Foraged by the Field bees

The locations where the honeybees go and collect food (nectar, pollen, and
propolis) should contain diverse species of plant vegetation such as fruit trees, shrubs,
weeds, herbs and other agricultural crops.

In Baguio City and La Trinidad, Benguet, there are also various plants producing
nectar and pollen that provide benefits to honeybees. The finding shows that all of the
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40
respondents have mentioned that the main foraged plant where bees go to collect food
substances is from the wild sunflower. The second common source of bees’ food is from
chayote (88.24%). Aside from these, other plants like weeds (64.71%), gummamella
flower (47.06%), Citrus tree (35.29%), and calliandra tree (26.47%) are other sources of
foraged substance that collects by field bees. Only one respondent claimed that his bees
collects also from the yacon and lantana plants (Table 12).

Table 12. Kinds of plants producing nectar and pollen substance foraged by bees
KINDS OF PLANTS
FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE
Sunflower
34
100
Chayote
30
88.24
Gummamela
16
47.06
Citrus
12
8.89
Corn
10
29.41
Weeds
22
64.71
Calliandra
9
26.47
Yacon
1
2.94
Lantana
1
2.94


Practices in the Management of the Apiary

Location of the apiary. Table 13 presents that most (29 or 85.29%) beekeepers’
apiary is located at their backyard for ease of monitoring the colonies condition. Six or
17.65% of the respondents placed some of their beehives on their rooftop. This is to
accommodate the growing number of their conies. Four (11.76%) respondents settled
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41
their apiaries in the mountain areas, and three (8.82%) respondents settle their apiary
within the vicinity of their garden. This finding shows that majority of the beekeepers
locate their apiaries in their backyard.

Schedule for inspecting the apiary. A regular inspection of the colonies in the
apiary should be done inorder to see the status and arrangement of food and brood
frames, to check the queen condition and observe if the there are predators or intruders
that are present in the beehives or apiary. Majority of the respondents (67.65%) inspected
their colonies weekly (Table 13). This is consistent with the standard schedule of
inspection mentioned by Sito (2000). There were seven (20.59%) respondents that do the
inspection once in every two weeks, and very few (8.82%) inspect their colonies twice a
week. One respondent said that he does the inspection himself once in a month because
he hired care takers to do the regular inspections (weekly schedule) of cultured colonies.
It reveals that most of the beekeepers were following the standard schedule in
apiary inspection and there were few of them that based the schedule for inspection in
their most convenient time, which they regularly follow.

Types of hive box used in confining colony. Table 22 shows that the small
population of colony is usually confined into small beehives (nuc-Box) or 5 framer
boxes. As the colony increase its population, introducing additional frames (both food
and brood frames) must be done to facilitate the activities of bees in the colony, and
eventually this hive material will be replaced into standard beehive as the population of
said colony has increased
The result shows that all respondents have used the standard beehive (10-framer
beehive box). Aside from these, majority (82.35%) of these respondents have also used
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42
the 5-framer beehive, but only few of these respondents have uses the nuc-B framer
beehive box in confining colonies (47.06%). And this indicates that most of the
respondents were managing colonies that are well populated.
Applied protective coating on bee hives. All beehives that are fabricated with the
use of wood materials can be prevented against damages (depreciation cause) due to
weathering conditions by applications of protective coatings in the outside covering of
said hive boxes. On findings, most (52.94%) of the respondents applied the oil-based
paint, while 10 or 29.41% have preferred to use the rubber-based latex so that hives may
last longer even if it is exposed to sunlight and rains. According to beekeepers the
rubber–based latex paint will flex and resist chalking much more than oil–based paints
but both will finally succumb to mildew and peeling. In the part of other (17.65%)
respondents, they do not apply any protective coatings in their beehives because they
were not aware on the advantages brought about by coating.
Distances in-between hives. The practice on setting of beehives in the apiary is
also necessary for ease of management on beehives. But because of the geographical
locations in our localities the following practices are revealed.
Majority (67.65%) of the respondents claimed they maintain 1 meter and less in
distance in-between beehives. There were 41.17% of respondents who set the beehives 1
meter apart and only two (5.88%) of the respondents said that they maintain 2 meters and
above distance in-between beehives.
Beekeepers vary in setting up of beehives in the apiary. It meant that some of the
respondents have problem on physical location of apiary, considering that the locality are
mountainous, that prevents them from following the recommended standard in setting up
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43
of beehives as compared to lowland areas wherein the hives or colonies are uniformly
settled down in the apiaries.

Point of directions of hives’ entrance. According to Sito, (2000), the entrance of
beehives should be positioned east to west direction for the entrance of colonies to be
easily stricken by sunrise.
The table shows that most (70.59%) of the respondents followed the east to west
direction of hives’ entrance. But there were some apiaries that were situated under the tall
trees or infrastructures, which prevented the reach of sunrise on the colonies and usually
it is not positioned according to recommended standard.

Leveling of hives’ entrance. The Hives’ entrance should be observed flat during
summer but it must be positioned lower than its’ opposite side during rainy days to
prevent entrance of water (Sito, 2000). The findings presents that most (73.528%) of the
respondents have practiced lowering of hive entrance even during typhoon or summer
time, while nine (26.47%) respondents says that they steadily level it either during
typhoon or summer time. In connection to this finding, Wal (1996) mentioned that during
typhoon the beekeepers usually cover each beehives with plastic cellophane, the hives’
entrance are reduced, and they nail the beehives and tied it up in strong foundation
(wooden or steel made wreck) to prevent it from collapse.










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Table 13. Practices in the care and management of apiaries
PRACTICES FREQUENCY
PRECENTAGE
a. Location of Apiary*


At the rooftop
6
17.65
Within the backyard
29
85.29
Near or within the garden /field
3
8.82
In the mountain
4
11.76
b. Inspection of the Apiary *


Twice a week
3
8.82
Weekly
23
67.65
Once in two weeks
7
20.59
Monthly
1
2.94
Total
34
100
c. Types of Hive used*


Nuc-B framer hive box
16
47.06
5 framer hive box
28
82.35
10 framer box
34
100
d. Protective Coating Used


Rubber-based latex
10
29.41
Oil-based paint
18
52.94
Not Applied
6
17.65
Total
34
100
*Multiple response





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Table 13. Continued…

e. Distance in Between Hives*
FREQUENCY PRECENTAGE
1 meter and below
23
67.65
1 meter
14
41.18
2 meters and above
2
5.88
f. Direction of Entrance*


North to South
6
17.65
East to West
24
70.59
West to East
2
5.88
South to North
3
8.82
g. Leveling of Hive’s Entrance


Entrance is lower than its opposite side
25
73.52
Flat or leveled
9
26.47
TOTAL
34
100
* Multiple Response



Perceptions About Pest, Predators, and Diseases

The respondents differ in their perceptions as to whether the parasites, the
predators and the diseases they encountered in their apiaries is a serious problem or not a
problem. Table 14 presents the opinion of the respondents.
Parasites. The parasites of bees are mites which are of two kinds: Varroa
jacobsoni and Tropilaelaps clarae. It seems that the former is a more serious problem to
the beekeepers than the latter. Majority of the respondents (65%) perceived that Varroa
jacobsoni is a serious problem while 35% said that it is not a problem. Perhaps their
apiary was never attacked by this parasite that is why they say it is not a problem.
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Predator. The predators identified by the respondents were also of two kinds: the
swift bird and the wasp. There were 53% of the respondents who said that the swift bird
is a problem while 47% said that it is not a problem. There were also 21% who said that
the wasp is a serious problem while 79% said the wasp is not a problem. It is apparent
that there were more respondents who encountered the swift bird as their serious
problem.
Diseases. There were 4 categories of diseases revealed by the respondents. The
first one was the fungal disease (chalk brood). Majority of the respondents (85%)
however said that this was not a problem. Only 15% encountered it as a serious problem.
The second category was the Protozoan (nosema apis). However, all the respondents
mentioned that it is not a problem. The third category was the Viral disease (Sac brood)
but majority (94%) also said that it is not a problem. The fourth category was the
bacterial diseases. There were two strains of bacteria causing diseases, the European foul
brood and the American foul brood. Both of them were not a problem as pointed out by
majority of the respondents.
This finding reveals that the beekeepers were not so concerned about the diseases.
Their concerns were the Varroa Jacobosoni and the swift bird. These were the major
enemies of the honeybees. According to Baldo (2000), the mites can cause shriveled and
deformed wings and bodies of young bees which eventually lead to death of the bees.
Tayaotao also mentioned that the swift bird can consume approximately 400 to 500 bees
a day.


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Table 14. Pests, predators and diseases that attacked the bee colonies
PARTICULAR
NOT A PROBLEM A SERIOUS PROBLEM
F
%
F
%
a. Parasites (mites)





Varroa jacobsoni
12 35.29
22
64.71

Tropilaelaps clarae
27 79.41
7
20.59
b. Predators




Swift
bird
16
47.06 18 52.94
Wasp
26
76.06 8 23.53
c. Diseases




(Fungal)
Chalk brood
29 85.29
6
14.70
(Protozoan)
Nosema apis
34 100
-
-
(Viral)
Sac brood
32 94.12
2
5.88
(Bacterial)
European foul brood
31 91.18
3
8.82

American foul brood
31 91.18
3
8.82


Bio-physical Factors Affecting
Honey Production
As recommended by ERDS, the ideal bee farm should be located within 3-8
kilometers radius from the host plants depending on the slope in the area where the apiary
is situated. It should also be located near the source of clean water for bees to dilute
honey and regulate the temperature inside the beehive, it should have enough windbreaks
against typhoon season, and it should be far from pesticide spray.
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There were eight bio-physical factors identified by the respondents that were
affecting their honey production. The factors were: apiary lacks wind break for typhoon,
cold temperature (freezing), scarcity of nectar and pollen in forage area, apiary is far from
water source, human and animal disturbances, inconvenience of bees in transporting
foraged substance, apiary is near farm that use pesticide spray, and bad road condition.
Among the identified or considered biophysical problems of the respondents, 51% of the
respondents said their honey production was affected by the shortage of nectar and pollen
for honey in the foraging areas especially during summer when flowering plants like sun
flower and chayote are quite scarce, thus they have to provide food supplement to the
bees inorder that they will perform their normal activities. Another factor of major
concern by 41% of the respondents was the pesticide spray. Exposure or contamination
of field bees to pesticide spray on the visited cut flower and vegetables lead to the death
of the bees and reduce their population. This affects honey production. Apiary is lack of
wind break from typhoon and coldness of the temperature was a concern of 38% and
35% of the respondents, respectively because these factors were causing poor survival
rate of cultured colonies. On the other hand, water source, human and animal disturbance
and inconvenience of bees in transporting foraged substance were concerns of a few
respondents. Majority do not find them as problems.
This implies that majority of beekeepers were facing two or more problems and it
also meant that a certain problems occur or exist with others but not to all.



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Table 15. Biophysical factors affecting the colonies and apiaries of beekeepers
BIO-PHYSICAL FACTORS FRQUENCY PERCENTAGE
(F) (%)
Apiary lack wind breaks for typhoon 13 38.24
Coldness (freezing temperature) 12 35.29
Scarcity of nectar & pollen in forage area 17 50.50
Apiary is far from location of water 2 5.88
Prone to human & animal disturbances 3 8.82
Inconvenience of bees in
transporting foraged substance 4 11.76

Apiary is near in areas with high
pesticide spray 14 41.18

Inconvenience to transportation facilities in
The area as caused by aborting road 9 26.47




Approaches in Addressing of Problems
Encountered in the Operations

Table 16 presents the approaches of the respondents to the encountered problems
in their beekeeping operations, the common actions done by 25 (73.53%) respondents
was asking help from fellow beekeepers, while twenty four (70.58%) of them consulted
the expert beekeeper in the locality. There were 21 (61.76%) of the respondents that
sought the assistance from their organization or cooperative. But according to 18
(52.94%) of beekeepers, if the problems are not addressed by their organization, they
tend to do self-research. Only one (2.94%) respondent said that he neglected the
problem/s he encountered in his operations because he can’t seek technical assistance.
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It implies that majority of the beekeepers were relying on the help of others to
solve their problems.

Table 16. Approaches on addressing problems encountered in beekeeping operations
ADDRESSING OF PROBLEMS FRQUENCY PERCENTAGE RANK
(F) (%)
Consulting expert 24 70.58 2
Asking help from friend beekeeper 25 73.53 1
Consulting Beekeepers’ association 21 61.76 3
Doing self research for the problem 18 52.94 4
Neglecting the problem 1 2.94 5


Practices in Harvesting Honey

Table 17 presents the practices of the respondents in harvesting honey. This
included the number of harvesting per year, month of harvesting, method of extraction,
time of harvesting, and place of bottling the honey.
Number of harvesting per year. The number of harvesting per year depends on the
method of harvesting followed by the beekeeper. There were two methods of harvesting
honey. The first is the harvesting of ripe frames and the other is the harvesting at about
the end of honey flow season. In the former method, the beekeeper can harvest twice a
year and in the later method the beekeeper harvests only once a year. Majority (56%) of
the respondents practice regular harvesting just once in a year, because they set aside
some honey needed by the colonies for bees production (more on increasing the number
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51
of colonies). The others (44%) who prepared the colony during the honey flow season
(more on production of honey), they harvested twice in the same year because there was
a high yield of honey considering that their colonies are well populated that foraged in
areas with abundant nectariferous flora.
Month of harvesting. The table presents that 14 (41%) of the respondents
harvested their honey from the months of December to January, 9 ( 27%) harvested from
November to December. The other 4 (11.77%) mentioned the months of November to
March. Only two (5.88%) respondents harvested their honey from the months of
November to January or December to February. This finding shows that the beekeeper do
not harvest their honey on the same month. So there is no problem of honey flooding the
market on a certain month.
Time of harvesting honey. Majority (88.23%) of the respondents prefer to start
harvesting at 9:00 A.M. to 12:00 noon while 38.23% started at 12:00 noon to 3:00 P.M.
However, according to four (11.76%) respondents, they usually start harvesting as early
as 6:00 A.M to 9:00 A.m. This finding shows that most beekeepers harvest their honey
from 9:00 A.M. to 12:00 noon time.
Method of extracting honey. Table 17 shows that majority (85.29%) of the
respondents employ a combination of mechanized extractor and manual method in
harvesting of honey. The process includes crushing of honey comb, wax crapping over
the cells of honey. While few (14.71%) of the respondents use mainly the manual method
in the harvesting.
Place of bottling honey. Table 17 shows that majority (76.47%) of the
respondents do bottling of honey at home, while few (20.59%) said they do the bottling at
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the established processing center of the cooperative, for those who are members only.
One respondent preferred to bottle the honey right in the field.

Table 17. Practices of the respondents in harvesting honey
PARTICULAR FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE
a. Number of Harvesting per Year
Once 19 55.88
Twice 15 44.12
Total 34 100.00
b. Months of Harvesting Honey

November to December
9
26.72
November to January
2
5.88
November to March
4
11.77
December to January
14
41.18
December to February
2
5.88
c. Time of harvesting


6:00 to 9:00
4
11.76
9:00 to 12:00
30
88.24
12:00 to 3:00
13
38.23
d. Method of Extracting Honey


Manual (by hand)
5
14.71
Combination of manual and mechanized
29
82.29
e. Place of Bottling the Honey


At home
26
76.47
At the processing center of the cooperative
7
20.59
At the field
1
2.94
Total
34
100

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Grading System Used to Classify
Honey from other Products


Table 18 presents the methods used by the respondents to classify their honey.
Majority (52.94%) of the respondents uses both the bottle size and moisture content of
the honey to classify their product while 47.06% of the respondents said they used only
the bottle size that they used in packaging honey as the method of classifying their
honey.

Table 18. Method used to classify honey
METHOD OF CLAFYING HONEY FREQUENCY (F) PERCENTAGE (%)
By bottle size 16 47.06
By bottle sizing & moisture content 18 52.94
Total 34 100.00


Marketing Practices of the Beekeepers

The marketing practices of the respondents included the following: marketing
arrangements, forms of honey sold, marketing outlet, basis of pricing and mode of
promotion used. These practices are presented in Table 19.

Marketing arrangements. Table 19 reveals that majority of the respondents (88%)
just sell to walk-in customers. Aside from selling to walk-in customers majority (56%)
said that they offer free delivery to their customer. This is an added service that would
attract more customers. There were 17.65% of the respondents that accepted contract
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buyers in the outlet. And only one respondent said that he is capable of accepting job
orders (product specifications on honey are set by his customers).
Forms of honey sold. The forms of honey sold by the respondents were liquid or
crystallized form, chunk form and honey in comb. Table 19 reveals that all the
respondents produce and sell the liquid or crystallize form of honey. All of them sell on a
per piece basis but 56% said they also sell by bulk. Very few of the respondents sell the
honey in comb (8.82%), and chunk honey (5.88%).
Market outlet. Table 19 shows that majority of the respondents (73.53%) sold the
honey in their own house. They just wait for their customers to go to their house and buy.
Some of these respondents (47.06%) direct their products to end-users or individual
customers. However to those beekeepers or honey producers that have membership to
Cooperative, they were assisted by their organization. They were required by their
cooperative to submit some quantity of produced (23.53%) for centralize marketing,
There were seven or nine (26.47%) respondents that have market outlets on retail stores,
and 20 or 59% for canteens or groceries. One respondent claimed that he supplies only
the bakery. It implies that majority of the beekeepers have more than one market outlet.
Basis of pricing. Fifty percent of the respondents have priced their products based
on the prevailing market price, while 35.29% said that they follow the price set by the
cooperative. Four (11.76%) respondents based their price on the classification or grade of
their honey. This means that they follow premium pricing.
This finding implies that the beekeepers do not have the same way of pricing their
honey.
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Mode of promotion. The result shows that the respondents applied a common
method to establish their product identity. Table 19 reveals that there were 15 (44.12%)
of the respondents who practiced labeling of their product while 38.24% of them used
signboards or wallpapers. But to other respondents, they used the influence of “ka kilala”
or acquaintances (17.65%). Another 17.65% of the respondents opted to join regular
trade fairs through affiliation to a group of merchandiser that sought a better market for
the products. And only one respondent said that he advertised through local newspaper.

Table 19. Marketing transactions to customer prior to harvesting honey
MARKETING PRACTICES
FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE
a. Marketing Arrangement


Accept contract buying
6
17.65
Free delivery of product orders
19
55.88
Accept orders on package of choice
1
2.94
Sell to walk-in customers
30
88.24
b. Market Outlet

Sold at home
25
73.53
Bakery
1
2.94
Retail Store
9
26.47
Canteen Groceries
7
20.59
Cooperative
8
23.53
Direct to Consumers
16
47.06
c. Basis of Pricing


Prevailing market price
17
50.00
Set by beekeepers’ association
12
35.29
According to classification
4
11.76

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Table 19. Continued….
d. Mode of Promotion
FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE
Use of signboard or wallpaper
13
38.24
Use of name or product label
15
44.12
Advertise on local newspaper
1
2.94
Affiliation to merchandiser
4
11.76
Joining trade fair
2
5.88
Through grape vine/ none
6
17.65
e. Forms of honey/Basis of selling
Per Piece Basis
In Bulk Basis

F % F %
Liquid/crystallized form of honey
34
100
19
55.88
Chunk
2
5.88
2
5.88
Honey in comb
3
8.82
3
8.82


Practices in Disposing Honey Reject
Table 20 shows the practices of beekeepers in disposing of rejected honey. Most
(55.88%) of the respondents segregated the reject honey purposely for family and friend
consumption, while 10 or 29.41% of the respondents sell it to customers by offering it at
alower privilege price to prevent loss of sales opportunity, six or 17.65% preferred to
process it into another form of product, and five or 14.71% of respondents segregate it for
bees’ food. This implies that a rejected honey has many uses to beekeepers either for
economic or for consumption purposes.



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Table 20. Practices of beekeepers in disposing rejected honey
PARTICULAR FREQUENCY (F) PERCENTAGE (%)
For family use 19 55.88
Re-feed to colonies 5 14.71
Sale it by offering into lower price 10 29.41
Process into other form of product 6 17.65



Sources of Additional Fund

Table 21 presents that there were more respondents who did not borrow additional
funds (67.65%) than those who borrowed (32.35%). They used their personal savings. On
the other hand, there were 11(32.35%) that borrowed from different sources. One
borrowed from the bank, 4 from the cooperatives, 3 from individual money lender, and
another 3 from their relatives or from family members.

Table 21. Sources of additional fund
PARTICULAR FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE
a. Sources of Additional Fund


Borrowed fund/loan
11
32.35
Personal savings
23
67.65
Total
34
100
b. Sources of Loan


Cooperative
4
36.36
Individual money lender
3
27.27
Relatives
3
27.27
Bank
1
9.10
Total
11
100
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Reasons for not Borrowing
Table 23 presents the reasons of the 23 respondents that did not borrow.
According to 13 38.24%), they did not borrow because they do not have the ability to
borrow, 20.59% mentioned that banks require collateral, 32.35% said because of high
interest rate, while 8.82% said they had enough capital. This finding implies that many of
the beekeepers wanted to borrow money for their additional capital but they do not have
collaterals to offer and very few had sufficient capital besides, interest on loan is very
high.

Table 29. Reasons for not borrowing additional fund
REASONS FRQEUENCY (F) PERCENTACE (%)
No ability to borrow 13 38.24
Banks requires collateral 7 20.59
High interest rate 11 32.35
Enough capital 3 8.82
Total 34 100.00


Budget preprarion Budget Preparation
Table 23 reveals that most (76.47%) of the respondents practiced a systematic
preparation of budget. They anticipated the total amount of money to be allocated on
specific needs of operations such as: hive tools, sugar and medicine supplies, materials,
and facility and equipment. Eight or 23.53% of the respondents said they do not prepare
farm budget because it is time consuming as pointed out by 4 of the respondents. Two of
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the respondents said they don’t how to prepare a budget and another 2 respondents
mentioned that it is not necessary because their colonies are very few.
Majority (62.86%) of the respondents that practiced systematic budgeting said
that they based their budget on the available working capital or cash on hand, while
others (31.43%) based the budget from their previous operational expenses. Only one
respondent mentioned that he prepared his budget based on his target for expansion for
the next coming year.

Table 30. Budgeting practices and reasons for not preparing budget
RESPONSE FREQUENCY (F) PERCENTAGE (%)
Practiced budgeting 26 76.47
Do not practice budgeting. 8 23.53
Total 34 100.00

Reasons for not Preparing Budget
It is time consuming 4 50.00
Don’t now how to prepare budget 2 25.00
No need caused by minute operation 2 25.00
Total 34 100.00
Basis for Budget Preparation
Base on previous operation 11 31.43
Base on available working capital 22 62.86
Base on target expansion 1 5.71
Total 34 100.00



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Record Keeping Practices

Reasons for keeping and not keeping records. Table 24 shows that 26 or 76.47%
of the respondents practiced record keeping to monitor the past and present performance
of their operations and to asses the status of their business. On the other hand, 8 or
23.53% did not practice record keeping. Their reasons were: it is time consuming and it
adds to their job as mentioned by 37.50%, don’t have enough knowledge on record
keeping by 25%, don’t want others to know the financial status of their business by
another 25%, and no need to keep records due to limited colonies being managed
mentioned by or 12.50%.

Things that were recorded. Table 24 presents that 24 (70.58%) of the respondents
kept records on schedule of food and medicine applications on colonies while 18 or
52.97% recorded only the schedule of harvesting operations. According to 16 or 47.05%
they recorded sales and inventories of honey. Thirteen or 38.23% kept records of
expenses incurred in the operations such as: purchasing of colony stocks, hive tools and
harvesting or processing materials including supplies. Only six or 17.64% recorded only
the account payables on electricity, water, and labor services.

Record books used. Table 24 presents that 24 or 92.31% of the respondents used
the single entry type of record book (log book). Only two respondents used the double
entry type of record. These were respondents producing on a commercial scale.
Persons that responsible for recording. Table 31 shows that majority (93.30%) of
the respondents they themselves or their family members do the record keeping. Only one
hired a bookkeeper to do the record keeping.

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Table 24. Practices on farm record keeping
FARM RECORD KEEPING PRACTICES
FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE
Practice Record Keeping
26
76.47
Do Not Practice Record Keeping
8
23.53
Total
34
100
REASONS FOR NOT RECORDING

No knowledge on record keeping
2
25.00
Do not want others to know the financial
2 25.00
status of the operation
It is time consuming
3
37.50
No need because of few colonies
1
12.50
Total
8
100
OPERATIONS THAT ARE RECORDED

Food and medicine application
24
70.58
Harvesting operation
18
52.97
Sales and inventories of products
16
47.05
Operational expense incurred
13
38.23
Account payables
6
17.64
KINDS OF BOOK ENTRY

Single entry (Logbook)
24
92.31
Double entry (General journal)
2
7.69
Total 26
100


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Table 24. Continued....
PERSON WHO RECORD
FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE
Family members
25
93.30
Hired bookkeeper
1
3.70
Total
26
100


Assistance Needed by Beekeepers in Baguio
and Benguet Province

Table 25 presents assistances needed by the beekeepers as mentioned by the
respondents. There were 44.12% of the respondents who mentioned that they need
financial assistance, 20.59% mentioned marketing assistance, and 11.76% said they need
basic and advance training on beekeeping. The other needs mentioned by some of the
respondents were as follows: the need to organize a federation of the beekeepers to assist
them in their training and marketing of their products; tools, medicines and supplies
assistance; and the need to incorporate apiculture in the LGU program and formulate
policy on colony migration to prevent outbreak of diseases.





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Table 25. Recommended assistance needed by beekeepers in Baguio-Benguet
ASSISTANCE NEEDED
FREQUENCY
PERCENTAGE
Financial assistance
15
44.12
Marketing assistance
7
20.59
Basic and advance training/ seminars
4
11.76
Tools, materials. And medicine assistance
2
5.88
To federate beekeepers in the localities
3
8.82
Incorporating apiculture in the LGU program
3
8.82
Technological assistance from DENR and DA
1
2.94
Info. & dissemination on local


farmers to promote organic farming
3
8.82
Formulation of policy on migration


-to prevent outbreak disease
2
5.88

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SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Summary
The study was conducted to determine the beekeeping practices on European
honeybee (apis mellifera sp.) for honey production by Baguio and La Trinindad
Beekeepers. It specially determined the following: 1) demographic profile of the
beekeepers, 2) production, marketing, and financial management practices of beekeepers,
3) forms of honey produce and also the employed system for its promotion, and selling to
customers, 4) available technology used by beekeepers in grading and classifying of
honey products, 5) common problems encountered on pest, predator, and disease, as well
as biophysical factors affecting the colonies or apiaries, 6) sources of additional fund
used in the beekeeping operations, and budget allocation system, and farm record keeping
practices.
The respondents of the study composed of 34 beekeepers from Baguio City and
La Trinidad, Benguet. Most of the beekeepers were males and married with an average
age of 45years old. Most of them finished college and their main source of income was
cut flower and vegetable farming and their average household size was 6.
Most of them were engaged in the industry about 4 -7 years as a single
proprietorship. Very few operate on a partnership. Most of them managed less than ten
colonies but interestingly there was one respondent that managed one hundred fifty four
colonies. Most of the respondents were extending major forms of colony assistance (Care
and management on colonies) needed for its’ growth and development. During rainy
season the beekeepers maintain their bees with supplemental feeding where majority
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used the 60% sugar + 40% water solution. This was usually done once a week. As to
application of artificial pollen as food substitute for bees during rainy days, only a few
practiced it.
For procreation of bees needed for colony multiplication, all the beekeepers used
the Italian and Carniolan races of queen. Most of them reared their own queen bee. The
others purchased their queens from queen producers because they were new and lacked
the skill to rear their own queens.
Aging and low egg-laying capacity were the prime reasons for beekeepers to re-
queen. Most of them do this every two years usually by introducing a new queen to the
colony or unite queenless colony with another colony. Majority of the beepers did not
migrate their colonies because of the high cost doing it. Besides, there is no alternative
site for them to migrate, and they lacked knowledge on the technology. Those who
practiced migration usually do it early in the morning to avoid the heat of the sun that
would stress the bees. Sunflower and chayote were the most common plants where bees
forage for pollen and nectar.
Considering that the areas in the locality are mountainous, most of the apiaries are
located in the backyards of the beekeepers for ease in monitoring. The hives were usually
distanced 1 meter or less from each other.
The 10-framer box was used by all the beekeepers but there were some that used
also the 5-framer box. Majority of the respondents coat their hives with oil-based paint.
The hives’ entrance were usually pointed towards the east. The beekeepers inspect the
colonies once a week.


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Majority of the respondents encountered problems on scarcity of pollen and
nectar in the forage area, pesticide sprayed on plants where bees forage, lack of wind
breaks on apiaries against typhoon, coldness of temperature and rugged road that vehicles
cannot cross from the access point going down to the bee farm, and presence of pest,
predators and diseases. To address these encountered problems, these respondents seeked
the technical assistances from their fellow beekeepers who have the expertise. Members
of the cooperative seeked the assistance of the organization. Interestingly, others do their
own research because they cannot get assistance from other people.
Honey is harvested once or twice a year between the months of November,
December and January via a combination of manual and mechanical methods. The
bottling is usually done at home.
The honey is sold most often to walk-in buyers and some beekeepers offer free
delivery of the product to buyers.
The liquid form of honey is sold by all the respondents per piece or in bulk. If
ever there are rejects, it is used for family consumption.
Most of the respondents rely on their own savings to fund the enterprise because
they don’t qualify to apply for a loan. Most respondents practiced budgeting based on
their available working capital. Those who do not record say that they don’t know how
to, don’t want to divulge their financial information, or they see it as time-consuming.
Some of the Assistance identified by respondents are financial and marketing
assistance.
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Conclusions

Based on the findings, the following conclusions are made:
1. All the respondents were male, members of beekeeping organization and manage less
than ten colonies.
2. The respondents tried to follow the recommended practices in beekeeping though these
are hampered by their lack of resources.
3. Most of the beekeepers prefer to use assorted bottle in grading of honey to classify it to
other products, and majority also employ both the use of assorted bottle size and moisture
content of honey.
4. The varroa Jacobsoni (pest), swift bird (predator), and chalk brood (disease) are
observed among the three categories of causal elements and considered at serious
problems affecting the colonies of most respondents.
5. Majority of the respondents needed to borrow money to finance their beekeeping
operation. They borrowed money from cooperatives, individual private creditors, from
their family and from government lending institution.
6. Most of these respondents practiced systematic budgeting however and they based the
fund allocation on available working capital (cash on hand). The same number of
respondents are practicing keeping of records for operation using the simply entry (log
book). They usually keep records on foods and medicine applications, volume of harvest,
sales inventories, and account payables.



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Recommendation
In line with the finding of the study, the following recommendations are
forwarded:
1. For concern agencies to offer technical assistance on queen rearing to help facilitate
the increase in colonies managed by beekeepers.
2. Offer financial assistance to small-time beekeeper respondents to help them improve
their operations.
3. Offer trainings on record-keeping to beekeepers with the objective of teaching them
the basics of record keeping and to facilitate them appreciate the importance of record-
keeping.

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LITERATURE CITED

ANANAYO P. 1989. Investment Opportunities in Beekeeping, Third Beenet. Benguet
State University, La Trinidad Benguet.

BALDO, H.S. 1995. Pests and Diseases Mnagement. Seminar-Orientation on
Beekeeping with Common European Honeybee for Northern Luzon. ATDC-
DMMMSU-NLUC, La Union, Philippines. (Unpublished).

CABILITAZAN, E. (1994). Training and Technology Needs of Backyard Swine Raisers

in Benguet. Benguet State University, La Trinidad, Benguet. M.S. Thesis

Unpubished.). P4-5
COLTING, L. M. 1998. Foraging and Nesting Behavior Of Giant Bees (Apis dorsata sp.)
In Various Agricultural and Forest Ecosystems in Northern Luzon, Philippines.
PhD. Dissertation (unpub.), UPLB, College, Laguna. Pp.1-4, 14-15.

DANGLE, J.C. AND CLARO, R.C. 2000. Beekeeping Tools and Equipment.
Lecture Notes Delivered. During Training Course Held on August 21-25 2000 at
the ATDC- DMMMSU-NLUC, La Union, Philippines.

Ecosystem Research and Development Service (1997). Honey Culture Under Forest

Trees in the Cordillera.Vol.V11 No. 1. Loakan, Baguio City: DENR Pp. 5, 11, 16.


LAQUIDAN, R. C. 1995. Honeybee Products and By Products and its Potential in the

Philippines. A Lecture note on the Lecture Seminar-Orientation on Beekeeping with
Common European Honeybees For northern Luzon. Pp. 1-2.

MAYER, R. 1982. Production and Operations Management. McGraw-Hill Series
In Management. Fourth Edition Pp.4-5.

MATSUKA, M. et. al. 1998. Asian Bees and Beekeeping: Progress of Research and
Development Proceedings of fourth Asian Apiculture Association International
Conference, Katmandu, March 23-28, 1998. Pp. 5-6,29, 99-118, 235- 239.

MAHTO, R. A. 1989. Training and Development needs of Apple Farmers in

Solukhumbu District, Nepal. MS Thesis. Benguet State University La Trinidad,

Benguet. Pp.7, 25.

MASLAN, F. 1997 Optimizing Farm Diversification to Increase Farmers Income.

Cordillera Administrative Region.Department of agriculture. P.113-114

SABAS, G.P. 2001. Honey production. BS Thesis. Benguet State University, La
Trinidad, Benguet. . P.1.
Beekeeping Practices on European Bees for Honey Production by Beekeepers in
Baguio and La Trinidad, Benguet / Nadines B. Bulso.2006

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SITO, A.P. 1995. Hive Management. Seminar-Orientation on beekeeping with Common

European Honeybee for Northern Luzon. (Unpublished).


TAGARINO, L. 1988. Seminar-Orientation on Identification of Agribusiness
Opportunities. SLU-EISSIF, on July 29, 1988, draws from the study “ Profile for
Agribusiness Investment and Development in the province of Laguna” by Bessie
M. Burgos and Julius P. Ferraren, UPLB, Graduate School 1985.

TACIO, H. 2000. Beekeeping: A good source of Extra Income. Manila Bulletin
standard.

Wal, G. A (1996). Beekeeping Management for honey Production. Baguio Central

University, Baguio city. MS thesis (Unpublished).







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APPENDICES


Appendix A. Letter to the Respondents

BENGUET STATE UNIVERSITY
College of Agriculture











July 30, 2005











Sir / Madam:


Undersigned is undergraduate student of Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness
major in enterprise management presently conducting my research.
This aims to know the present “Production, marketing, and financial management
practices by beekeepers on European bee (Apis mellifera sp.) in the localities of Baguio
City and Benguet Province,” which I need to finish as a requirement for graduation.


In advance, undersigned humbly expresses his gratitude for your support by
giving your diligent cooperation and honest evaluations in connection to the questions
asked in the survey questionnaire.


God bless and thank you.








Respectfully yours,










NADINES B. BULSO




Student researcher




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Appendix B. Survey Questionnaire
1. General profile:
Name (optional): ______________________________________________________
Home address: ________________________________________________________
Age: ____________
Sex: _____________
Civil status: _____________
Family size: _____________
Educational attainment: ________________________
Occupation:_______________________
Office / work address:__________________________
Number of year in beekeeping operation:_______________________
Numbers of colonies presently manage: ________________________
Average income on beekeeping production per year: __________________________

1. Form of business Ownership:
( ) Sole proprietor
( ) Partnership

2. Membership to any related beekeeper’s Organizations:
( ) Pines Beekeepers’ Cooperative
( ) BEENET Phil.
( ) SLU-EISSIF
( ) Other, specify_________________________________
( ) None


11. MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON BEEKEEPING PRODUCTION
A. CARE & MANAGEMENT OF BEES COLONY

1. Sugar feeding application during dearth period.
(Pls. determine solution applied on table)

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Solution applied:
Time of application:
APPLICATION OF Kg. sugar + L. water
(pls. check below)
SUPPLEMENTAL (pls. check)
FEEDING
6o%
40%
50%
2 part
Once
Twice Once
ON COLONIES:
water water
sugar sugar
a week a week every

2
+
+
+
+
weeks
40%
60 %
50%
2 part
sugar sugar water
water
Wax comb building






Broad
rearing
Maintenance








2. Other food supplement applied on colonies? (Pls. write) ______________________
3. Major form of assistance /maintenance extends on colonies for its growth &
development:
(Pls. check relevant answers for application)
( ) Add new empty comb or frame for food storage /expansion of brood
( ) Reduce /increase hive entrance to prevent predator
( ) Rehiving of bees colony
( ) Colony compressing
( ) Arrange of brood frame in the colony
( ) Brood supporting
( ) Replace of aging or failing queen
( ) Colony splitting
( ) Attracting of bees with scents
( ) Test hygienic colony behavior (defense mechanism of colony against diseases)


B. QUEEN REARING & COLONY PRODUCTION

1. Do you rear or produce your own queen? _____Yes, _____No.
a. If yes, select the technique applied for queen rearing
( ) Supersede
( ) Do little method
( ) Grafting method
( ) Others, pls. write____________________________
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b. If no, how do you acquire queen bee?
( ) Purchase from other beekeeper
( ) Give by other beekeeper
( ) Rear own queen and also purchase queen bee

2. Replacement & management of queen (pls. check the table below)

Queen breed
Technique on a
Period of queen:
Reason for
Raised:
queen-less colony: (pls. check)
Re-queen:
(pls. check)
(pls. check)
(pls. check)


( )Italian
( )Introduce new
( )Yearly
( ) Old /aged queen
available queen
( ) Carniolan
( )Unite to
( )Twice a year
( ) low laying egg
other colony
( ) Hawain
( )Allow to
( )Every 2 years
( ) accidental death
produce its queen
( ) Australlian ( )Other, specify
( ) Other, specify ( ) Other, specify

( ) Other,



specify








C. PREPARATION/ LAY OUTING OF APIARY SITE

1. Do you practice migration of colonies your colonies to other place?____Yes, ____No.
a. If yes, select reason/s for migration
( ) Crop pollination ( ) Avoid food competition for growing number of colonies
( ) Honey production ( ) Avoid exposure to pesticide in your area
( ) Pollen production ( ) Other, specify______________________________

b. If no, select reason for not practice
( ) No available site to migrate ( ) Abundance of food source in the present apiary
( ) High cost for migration ( ) Other, specify__________________________
( ) Lack of knowledge on migration



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2. Time, distance, and schedule of apiary inspection: (pls. check the table below)

Time of transporting
Distance of apiary from
Schedule in apiary
colonies: (pls. check)
other apiary site:
Inspection:
(pls. check)
(pls. check)
( ) 6 to 9 A.M.
( ) Below 1Km. Away
( ) Twice a week
( ) 9 to 12 A.M
( ) 2 to 7 Kms. Away
( ) Weekly
( ) 12 to 3 P.M
( ) 8 to 13 Kms
( ) Once in 2 weeks
( ) 3 to 6 P.M
( ) Above 13 Kms. away
( ) Monthly




3. Hive description, location of apiary, and food source: ( pls. check the table below)

Type/s of hive used:
Paint applied on hive: Location of apiary : Food source:
(pls. check)
(pls. check)
(pls. check)
Nectar & pollen
(pls. check)
( )Nuc B-frame hive
( )Rubber-base latex ( )Backyard
( )Sunflower
( )5 framer hive
( )Oil-based paint
( )Roof top
( )Chayote
( )10 framer hive
( )None
( )Farm/ plantation ( )Gummamela
( )Other, specify
( )Other, specify
( )Forest/ mountain ( )Citrus

(

)Corn


( )Weeds


( )Other,
specify



4. Hive position & direction of entrance, distance between hives
(pls. check the table below)

Distance between
Hive entrance
Position of hive entrance:
Hives: (pls. check)
direction:
(pls. check)
(pls. check)
( ) 1 meter and below
( ) North
( )It is lowered than opposite side
( ) 1 meter
( ) East
( ) Flat / leveled
( ) 2 metes & above
( ) West
( ) Others, specify

( ) South


( ) Other, specify


D. PEST, DISEASES & PREDATOR MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

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Identify the pests, predators, and disease
Not a problem:
A serious
encountered that affecting the colonies:
(pls. check)
Problem:
(pls. check)
(pls. check)
(Pests) a. Toads


b. Ants


c. Frogs


d. Lizard


e. Coachroaches


f. Wax moth


g. Termites


(Mites) h. Varroa jacobsoni


i. Tropilaelaps clarae


(Predators) j. Birds (swift)


k. Wasp


(Diseases) l. Nosema apis


m. Sac broad


n. European foul broad


o. American foul broad




1. What are the kinds of biophysical factors affecting your beekeeping operations.
(pls. check)
( ) Not enough wind breaks for typhoon.
( ) High temperature
( ) Coldness
( ) Lack food source (pollen & nectar)
( ) Far from location of water for bees
( ) Prone to disturbances cause by human & animals
( ) Inconvenience of foraging bees in transporting food from the source to colony
( ) Near from areas with high pesticide usage
( ) Not accessible to transport facilities caused of aborting roads

2. What are your approaches to solve your problems in beekeeping?
(pls. check)
( ) Consulting experts
( ) Asking help from beekeepers/ friends
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( ) Doing self research for the problem
( ) Consulting beekeepers’ association
( ) Neglecting the problem
( ) Other, specify_______________________
III.
HARVESTING PRACTICES
1. Is there standards you used in grading honey product?
( ) Yes, there is
( ) I don’t know
( ) None
2. What method do you use in bottling of honey to classify from other honey products?
( ) By bottle size
( ) By moisture content of honey
( ) Other, specify____________________________

3. System of harvesting
Method used on
Harvesting
Preferred place of bottling
Extracting honey:
time:
of honey product: (pls. check)
(pls. check)
(pls. check)
( ) Mechanize & manual ( ) 6 - 9 A.M.
( ) Apiary (bee farm)
( ) Purely manual
( ) 9 – 12 A.M. ( ) Etablished beekeepers’ center

( ) 1 – 3 P.M.
( ) At home

( ) 3 - 6 P.M.


3. Experienced number (period) of harvesting of honey in a year?
( ) Once
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( ) Twice
( ) Others, specify__________________________

IV. MARKETING PRACTICES

1. Arrangements/ transaction to buyers before / after harvesting the product:
( ) Contract buying of product
( ) Job order on packaging specification of honey
( ) Delivery of product to the customer
( ) Other, specify_______________________

2. Packaging & selling of honey product

TYPE OF HONEY FOR SALE:
Selling of honey: (pls. check)
(pls. check)
By piece
By bulk
( ) Liquid honey


( ) Crystallized


( ) Chunk


( ) Honey in comb





3. Market outlet, pricing, and promotion of product

MARKET OUTLET:
BASIS ON PRICING:
PROMOTION
( Pls. check)
( Pls. check)
(advertisement)

( Pls. check)
( )At home
( )Prevailing market price
( ) Product label
( )Bakeries
( )Supply /demand situation
( ) Advertised on radio
( )Retail stores
( )Set by beekeepers
( ) Through news paper
( )Canteens/ groceries
( )Grade/s of product/s
( ) Signboard/ wall paper
( )Beekeepers Coop.
( )Other, specify
( ) Other, specify
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4. Action/s on reject honey product:
( ) For family use
( ) Process into other product
( ) Throw
( ) Sold them at a lower price


V. FINANCIAL PRACTICES

A. SOURCE OF FUND/ CAPITAL
1. Did you borrow additional fund? ____Yes, ____No.
a. If No, check reason/s for choice
( ) No ability to borrow
( ) Requires collateral for borrowing
( ) High interest rate
( ) Have enough funds/ capital
b. If yes, check the lender/s borrowed
( ) Bank
( ) Individual private Creditor
( ) Family
( ) Cooperative
( ) Other, specify_____________________________

B. FUND ALLOCATION/ BUDGETTING
1. Do you practice systematic budgeting? ____Yes, _____ No.

Beekeeping Practices on European Bees for Honey Production by Beekeepers in
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a. If yes, how do you prepare for budget operation?
( ) Based on previous operational expenses or cost
( ) Based on available working capital/ money
( ) Other, specify______________________________
b. If no, select reason/s for choice
( ) It is time consuming
( ) Don’t know how to prepare budget
( ) Other, specify______________________________

VI. RECORD KEEPING ON BEEKEEPING OPERATION

1. Do you maintain record on your beekeeping operation? ____Yes, ____No.
a. If yes, what do you usually record? (pls. answer/s check)
( ) Supplemental foods & medicines application
( ) Harvesting operation
( ) Sales & inventories on product/s
( ) Operational expenses (transportation)
( ) Account payables (rent on land for the apiary site, loan, water etc.)
( ) Other, specify_____________________________


b. If no, select reason/s below for choice.
( ) No knowledge on record keeping
( ) Don’t want kthers to know my financial status
( ) Time consuming
( ) Other, specify______________________________

2. Who keep or record your business transaction?
( ) Me / family
( ) Hired bookkeeper

3. What kind of book entry do you use?
( ) Single entry (Log book)
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( ) Double entry / General Journal (debit & credit entry)
( ) Other, specify______________________________



V1II. RECOMMENDATION:

What would you recommend to how government and concern agencies should support
the apiculture industry in your place regarding on your production
(Indicate in 1 – 2 sentences only)

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Beekeeping Practices on European Bees for Honey Production by Beekeepers in
Baguio and La Trinidad, Benguet / Nadines B. Bulso.2006

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Document Outline

• Beekeeping Practices on European Bees for Honey Production by Beekeepers in Baguio and La Trinidad, Benguet
  • BIBLIOGRAPHY
  • ABSTRACT
  • TABLE OF CONTENTS
  • INTRODUCTION
    • Rationale of the study
    • Statement of the Problem
    • Objectives of the Study
    • Significance of the study
    • Scope and Limitation
  • REVIEW OF LITERATURE
    • Beekeeping as a Modern Occupation
    • Profile of Some Beekeepers in the Philippinesthat Culture a Commercial Bee
    • Starting a Good Apiary as Requirements
    • Care and Management of Colonies
    • Primary Products in Beekeeping and Its Uses
    • Honey Harvesting and Processing
    • Traditional Practice of bottlingand Promotion of honey
    • Domestic Market Scenario on Honey
    • Bio-physical and Technical Factors: A Hindranceto Success in Beekeeping
    • Extension Services and TrainingRequirements of Beekeepers
    • Beekeeping Operation: An assessment and policy
    • Definition of Terms
  • METHODOLOGY
    • Locale and Time of the Study
    • Respondents of the Study
    • Research Instrument
    • Data Collection
    • Data Gathered
    • Data Analysis
  • RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
    • Profile of the Respondents
    • Form of Business Organization
    • Membership to Organization
    • Number of Years of Experience in Beekeeping
    • Number of Colonies Managed in the Apiary
    • Practices in Giving Food Supplement
    • Feeding of Colonies with Artificial Pollen
    • Enhancement of Colony GrowthAnd Development
    • Practices on the Care and Management of the Queen
    • Practices on Re-Queening Queenless Colony
    • Practices in Colony Migration
    • Plants Producing Nectar and Pollen SubstanceForaged by the Field bees
    • Practices in the Management of the Apiary
    • Perceptions About Pest, Predators, and Diseases
    • Approaches in Addressing of ProblemsEncountered in the Operations
    • Practices in Harvesting Honey
    • Grading System Used to ClassifyHoney from other Products
    • Marketing Practices of the Beekeepers
    • Practices in Disposing Honey Reject
    • Sources of Additional Fund
    • Reasons for not Borrowing
    • Budget preprarion Budget Preparation
    • Record Keeping Practices
    • Assistance Needed by Beekeepers in Baguioand Benguet Province
  • SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS
    • Summary
    • Conclusions
    • Recommendation
  • LITERATURE CITED
  • APPENDICES

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