A Baseline Study on Beekeepers Who Participated during the 8th National Beekeeping Convention cum Symposium in December 2009

A Baseline Study on Beekeepers Who Participated during the 8^th National Beekeeping Convention cum Symposium in December 2009

Elmer R. Esplana

National Secretariat Coordinator, National Price and Volume Watch, Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), Department of Agriculture (DA) &

President, Corps of Philippine Researchers for Development, Inc. (CPR4DEVT)

Paper presented at the 9^th National Beekeeping Convention

Southern Luzon State University, Lucban Quezon, Philippines 

with the theme “Beekeeping: A Tool for Productivity and Environmental Conservation ”

February 2-4, 2011  

ABSTRACT

This paper is a baseline study on the beekeepers who participated during the 8^th National Beekeeping Convention cum Symposium in December 2009.  The study aimed to determine the baseline information about the participants of the 8^th National Beekeeping Convention cum Symposium. The study used a survey questionnaire.  Of the 108 registered participants, 66 (60%) respondents participated in the baseline survey, including selected resource person-beekeepers. The study indicates that majority of the beekeeper-respondents are living in Luzon regions, particularly in Regions I, III, CAR, NCR and IV-A.  Majority are male participants. Most of the interest/inclination of beekeepers are in the production, delivery of honey products and by-products and supply chain management. Most of the beekeepers are using mobile phones as their major tool in communicating among their clients and  between each other. Majority of the beekeepers have more than 10 colonies with Apis Mellifera as the common culture species.  A very small number of beekeeping activities is being done on Apis Cerana and Trigona. The study also indicates that beekeepers with bigger number of colonies of about 20 to 150 colonies started their beekeeping in the early 1990’s or in the early 2000’s.  The survey also showed that start-up capital in establishing apiary/bee farm ranges from a low of PhP3,000 to a high of PhP100,000. Majority of the respondents are connected with either their local or national beekeeping association. Most of the beekeepers are open for collaborative research in the following areas: honeybee breeding, production, processing, product development, and marketing of bee products and by-products. This baseline study was able to identify and determine the characteristics and practices, including the interest/inclination of beekeepers in the country. This study also demonstrated that beekeepers are supportive in the conduct of collaborative researches on bee breeding, production, processing, pest & disease management, queen rearing and hive management, training and extension, product development and marketing bee products and by-products. This collaborative behaviour/attitude among the local beekeeper-respondents may help the country to have a better and sustained honeybee industry performance in the succeeding 5 to 20 years.  This study basically supports the goals and objectives of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA) in contributing to food security, poverty alleviation, improved productivity, increased income and global competitiveness of the high-value honeybee products and by-products in the country. 

Keywords:  Baseline Study, Survey, Beekeepers, 8^th National Beekeeping Convention cum Symposium, December 2009