Technologies

Bamboo-Woven Bee Hives [Uganda]

Pito kic Ki Bong koo onyo Yen ma iye twolo

technologies_2838 - Uganda

Completeness: 88%

1. General information

1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology

Key resource person(s)

land user:

Okello Samuel

Farmer

Padibe west, Lamwo District

Uganda

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)
Scaling-up SLM practices by smallholder farmers (IFAD)
Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)
Bern University of Applied Sciences, School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (HAFL) - Switzerland

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

12/5/2017

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Ja

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

Nee

2. Description of the SLM Technology

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Using relatively cheap and locally available bamboo material to make bee hives is adaptable to local setting and reduces harvesting of large native trees

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

In northern Uganda, traditional bee hives used to be made from large tree trunks chiseled into a hollow cylindrical piece of tree trunk. Owing to increased demand for more hives and due to extensive destruction of suitable trees, farmers now use locally available bamboo stems for making bee hives. This technology, apart from being a response to decreasing availability of materials such as large tree trunks that were previously used to make bee hives, it is also meant to provide a cheaper alternative to expensive modern bee hives such as the top-bar and Langstroth.

Bamboo canes are peeled into sheets of approximately 2-3 meters, and weaved in a manner similar to the way the baskets are made but in a cylindrical shape. The hives are constructed with a length varying from 0.5-0.8 m, and 0.4 m in diameter. The resulting open-ended cylinder is then covered with a grass layer of about 2 cm thick and wrapped with polythene strings to keep the grass in place. The grass is meant to insulate the hive against heat. The open ends of the cylinder are closed using a wooded circular piece of wood punched with about 10 holes of 1 cm diameter. It is through these holes that bees enter the hive. The completed hives are hung into a tree, where the bees colonize and produce honey. The hive should face north or south to protect it from the direction of sun and rain. The sun heat melts the honey comb from which honey is extracted.

The apiary should be free from termites, birds, and hygiene should be fully maintained. The hives may also be hung on two poles attached by wires that are used to hang them. These poles should be greased to avoid being damaged by termites, bush fire and red ants. The apiary should be 30 m away from the main road, flowering plants and also near water source within 100 m is recommended.

An apiary with bamboo-woven been hives conserves the natural environment and honey extracted from the honey comb generates income to the farmer. Shades must be provided at the apiary site during dry seasons. To protect the apiary, scouting should be frequently done. Bees are harmful and the apiary occupies land from other activities like agriculture.

Farmers like this type of hive because it produces relatively clean honey compared to other systems. Furthermore, the bamboo hives last relatively longer because they are affected less by degrading insects. The low cost compared to other hives such as the top-bar or langstroth make it preferred by the bee farmers. However, there is also a high risk of fire since the hive is fitted with grass that could catch fire.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.4 Videos of the Technology

Date:

10/05/2017

Location:

Padibe, West Lamwo Distict

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

Country:

Uganda

Region/ State/ Province:

Northern

Further specification of location:

Ayom Village, Abakadyak Parish

2.6 Date of implementation

Indicate year of implementation:

2009

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:
  • through land users' innovation

3. Classification of the SLM Technology

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

  • reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
  • conserve ecosystem
  • preserve/ improve biodiversity
  • create beneficial economic impact

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Forest/ woodlands

Forest/ woodlands

(Semi-)natural forests/ woodlands:
  • Selective felling
Products and services:
  • Timber
  • Fuelwood
  • Fruits and nuts
  • Grazing/ browsing
  • Nature conservation/ protection

3.3 Further information about land use

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:
  • rainfed
Comments:

The technology uses limited rainwater, since the bees can move long distances looking for water

Number of growing seasons per year:
  • 2
Specify:

In most cases during any dry spell which can take more than three weeks

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

  • natural and semi-natural forest management
  • windbreak/ shelterbelt
  • beekeeping, aquaculture, poultry, rabbit farming, silkworm farming, etc.

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Specify the spread of the Technology:
  • applied at specific points/ concentrated on a small area
Comments:

Spreading of the technology depends on the presence of trees

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

structural measures

structural measures

  • S9: Shelters for plants and animals
  • S11: Others
management measures

management measures

  • M3: Layout according to natural and human environment
  • M5: Control/ change of species composition
Comments:

This is an integrated approach on the natural trees

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

soil erosion by water

soil erosion by water

  • Wt: loss of topsoil/ surface erosion
soil erosion by wind

soil erosion by wind

  • Et: loss of topsoil
physical soil deterioration

physical soil deterioration

  • Pu: loss of bio-productive function due to other activities
biological degradation

biological degradation

  • Bc: reduction of vegetation cover
  • Bs: quality and species composition/ diversity decline

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:
  • prevent land degradation

4. Technical specifications, implementation activities, inputs, and costs

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

Author:

Amale Balla Sunday

Date:

10/05/2017

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Length of hive: 0.8m
Diameter: 0.4m

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:
  • per Technology unit
Specify unit:

One peace

other/ national currency (specify):

Uganda shilling

Indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (if relevant): 1 USD =:

3500.0

Indicate average wage cost of hired labour per day:

5000

4.4 Establishment activities

Activity Type of measure Timing
1. Cutting bamboo Other measures Any time but mostly during the dry season
2. Pealing Other measures Any time but mostly during the dry season
3. Weaving bee hives Other measures Any time but mostly during the dry season

4.5 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

If possible, break down the costs of establishment according to the following table, specifying inputs and costs per input. If you are unable to break down the costs, give an estimation of the total costs of establishing the Technology:

5000.0

Specify input Unit Quantity Costs per Unit Total costs per input % of costs borne by land users
Labour Harvesting bamboo canes Manhours 3.0 5000.0 15000.0 100.0
Labour Pealing the bamboo canes Manhours 5.0 5000.0 25000.0 100.0
Labour Weaving the been hives Manhours 15.0 5000.0 75000.0 100.0
Equipment Bamboo canes Pieces 30.0 1500.0 45000.0 100.0
Equipment Strings Rolls 1.0 6000.0 6000.0 100.0
Equipment Baits Piece 1.0 10000.0 10000.0 100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology 176000.0
Comments:

Protection from fire is done by the land user since it is in the farm

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

Activity Type of measure Timing/ frequency
1. Slashing around the beehives Management During the dry season
Comments:

Most maintenance activities were done during the dry season

4.7 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

If possible, break down the costs of maintenance according to the following table, specifying inputs and costs per input. If you are unable to break down the costs, give an estimation of the total costs of maintaining the Technology:

1.0

Specify input Unit Quantity Costs per Unit Total costs per input % of costs borne by land users
Labour Slashing Area (acres) 1.0 30000.0 30000.0 100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology 30000.0
Comments:

The technology is almost self sustaining

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Routine visits during the dry season

5. Natural and human environment

5.1 Climate

Annual rainfall
  • < 250 mm
  • 251-500 mm
  • 501-750 mm
  • 751-1,000 mm
  • 1,001-1,500 mm
  • 1,501-2,000 mm
  • 2,001-3,000 mm
  • 3,001-4,000 mm
  • > 4,000 mm
Agro-climatic zone
  • sub-humid

5.2 Topography

Slopes on average:
  • flat (0-2%)
  • gentle (3-5%)
  • moderate (6-10%)
  • rolling (11-15%)
  • hilly (16-30%)
  • steep (31-60%)
  • very steep (>60%)
Landforms:
  • plateau/plains
  • ridges
  • mountain slopes
  • hill slopes
  • footslopes
  • valley floors
Altitudinal zone:
  • 0-100 m a.s.l.
  • 101-500 m a.s.l.
  • 501-1,000 m a.s.l.
  • 1,001-1,500 m a.s.l.
  • 1,501-2,000 m a.s.l.
  • 2,001-2,500 m a.s.l.
  • 2,501-3,000 m a.s.l.
  • 3,001-4,000 m a.s.l.
  • > 4,000 m a.s.l.
Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:
  • not relevant

5.3 Soils

Soil depth on average:
  • very shallow (0-20 cm)
  • shallow (21-50 cm)
  • moderately deep (51-80 cm)
  • deep (81-120 cm)
  • very deep (> 120 cm)
Soil texture (topsoil):
  • medium (loamy, silty)
Soil texture (> 20 cm below surface):
  • medium (loamy, silty)
Topsoil organic matter:
  • medium (1-3%)
If available, attach full soil description or specify the available information, e.g. soil type, soil PH/ acidity, Cation Exchange Capacity, nitrogen, salinity etc.

The soil is not a basic requirement for the technology

5.4 Water availability and quality

Ground water table:

5-50 m

Availability of surface water:

good

Water quality (untreated):

good drinking water

Is water salinity a problem?

Nee

Is flooding of the area occurring?

Nee

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Water is also used for drinking, especially from protected sites

5.5 Biodiversity

Species diversity:
  • medium
Habitat diversity:
  • medium
Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

It is a mixed crop farm with protected water source

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Sedentary or nomadic:
  • Sedentary
Market orientation of production system:
  • mixed (subsistence/ commercial
Off-farm income:
  • 10-50% of all income
Relative level of wealth:
  • average
Individuals or groups:
  • individual/ household
Level of mechanization:
  • animal traction
Gender:
  • men
Age of land users:
  • middle-aged
Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

The land user is educated

5.7 Average area of land owned or leased by land users applying the Technology

  • < 0.5 ha
  • 0.5-1 ha
  • 1-2 ha
  • 2-5 ha
  • 5-15 ha
  • 15-50 ha
  • 50-100 ha
  • 100-500 ha
  • 500-1,000 ha
  • 1,000-10,000 ha
  • > 10,000 ha
Is this considered small-, medium- or large-scale (referring to local context)?
  • medium-scale

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:
  • individual, not titled
Land use rights:
  • individual
Water use rights:
  • individual

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

health:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
education:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
technical assistance:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
employment (e.g. off-farm):
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
markets:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
energy:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
roads and transport:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
drinking water and sanitation:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good
financial services:
  • poor
  • moderate
  • good

6. Impacts and concluding statements

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

crop production

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

Improve pollination of crop flowers leads to improved yields

crop quality

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

Presence of bees in farm also deters other harmful insects that destroy crops or transmit crop pests and diseases

animal production

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

As a livestock, it results into more honey produced

risk of production failure

increased
decreased
Comments/ specify:

Bees easily colonize hives made of locally available bambo or stake materials within their environment

land management

hindered
simplified
Comments/ specify:

This approach ensures integrated land management

Income and costs

expenses on agricultural inputs

increased
decreased
Comments/ specify:

Cost of buying a hive is not incurred

farm income

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

High yield of honey gives more income to the farmer

diversity of income sources

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

Both from crops, animals and honey.

workload

increased
decreased
Comments/ specify:

Easy to manage the bees since there is little need to put baits

Socio-cultural impacts

food security/ self-sufficiency

reduced
improved
Comments/ specify:

Farmers harvest adequate honey which is also rich in nutrients

health situation

worsened
improved
Comments/ specify:

Honey contain high nutrient content and also acts as antibiotics against some infections

community institutions

weakened
strengthened
Comments/ specify:

Through marketing of the bee products in farmer groups

SLM/ land degradation knowledge

reduced
improved
Comments/ specify:

Farmers learn how to utilize locally available materials to make hives. e.g bamboo, ropes

conflict mitigation

worsened
improved
Comments/ specify:

In areas near national parks, bee keeping reduces human wildlife conflicts because bees repel away wild animals from reaching the farm stead

Ecological impacts

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

plant diversity

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

Pollination by bees improves plant diversity

invasive alien species

increased
reduced
Comments/ specify:

Bees repel away some invasive insects from the environment

beneficial species

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

Increase in bees as social insects

habitat diversity

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

The habitat become more diverse and plant species increase

pest/ disease control

decreased
increased
Comments/ specify:

Bees repel away some pests which infest crops or spread crop diseases

Climate and disaster risk reduction

micro-climate

worsened
improved
Comments/ specify:

Increase in plant diversity because of the presence of bees create a bio-diverse micro climate

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change
Season Type of climatic change/ extreme How does the Technology cope with it?
seasonal temperature dry season increase moderately

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Biological disasters
How does the Technology cope with it?
epidemic diseases not well

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?
Short-term returns:

positive

Long-term returns:

very positive

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?
Short-term returns:

positive

Long-term returns:

very positive

Comments:

The benefits increase with time due the number of products and the colonization of the hives

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

  • 1-10%
Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many have did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?
  • 90-100%
Comments:

This technology is traditional and farmers who keep bees learn them from others within the community

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

Nee

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Easy to manage
No additional cost after establishment
Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
It is highly sustainable

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view How can they be overcome?
Fire Early clearing
Its a medium term investment Constant replacement
Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view How can they be overcome?
Sometimes the hives may not be colonized Continuously checking

7. References and links

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

  • field visits, field surveys

2

  • interviews with land users

1

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