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

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:

Yes

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?

No

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

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

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

3.1 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

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

Comments:

This is an integrated approach on the natural trees

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• prevent land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

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

other/ national currency (specify):

Uganda shilling

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

3500.0

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

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

5.3 Soils

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

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Water is also used for drinking, especially from protected sites

5.5 Biodiversity

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

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

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

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

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)?

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

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?

No

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

7.1 Methods/ sources of information