Beekeeping Practices in the Philippines: A book published by Dr. Apolonio Sito for the Filipino beekeepers, students, researchers and extention workers

Beekeeping Practices in the Philippines: A book published by Dr. Apolonio Sito for the Filipino beekeepers, students, researchers and extention workers  

By Elmer R. Esplana, June 2, 2011

According to Dr. Apolonio Sito, the book Beekeeeping Practices in the Philippines is a collective experiences and commercialized results of researches from various beekeepers in the Philippines, particularly, La Union, Benguet, Davao, Cebu, Cavite, Cagayan de Oro and Bicol region. He further said that the very group of individuals that tested most of the cited beekeeping practices was the staff of the National Apiculture Research, Training and Development Institute (NARDTI) at the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU).

Also, the book comprises the consolidated practices, experiences and results of research and extension activities of the NARTDI. These are in the field of brood rearing, prevention and control of diseases and pests, queen rearing, fabrication of beekeeping supplies, tools and equipment, production of colony stocks as well as bee products like wax, honey, propolis and royal jelly of the different species of honeybees.

Dr. Sito emphasized that some of the practices documented in the said book were modifications of practices of beekeepers in Australia, Canada, United States of America, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam and Israel brought in the country by NARTDI staff who attended beekeeping trainings, conferences, fora, practical exposures in apiary operation and through the beekeeping consultants of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO-UN), Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and the practices of honey collectors in the case of Apis dorsata, Apis cerana and stingless bees.  The technologies documented in the said book were tested and modified at the demonstration apiary of the NARTDI, accustomed to the prevailing seasons/local conditions like climate, pollen and nectar availability, land holdings and existing farming practices of Filipino farmers.

The book is composed of four chapters. The first chapter had the title “Apis mellifera Linnaeus.”  The second chapter had the title “Apis cerana Fabricius.” The third chapter had the title “Apis dorsata Fabricius” and the fourth and the last chapter had the title “Trigona species.”  Each chapter had a documentation of the cultural management practices in the Philippines.  

Dr. Sito also stressed that this book was published for beekeepers, students, researchers, as well as extension workers for their ready reference.

Source:

Sito, Apolonio S. (April 2009).  Beekeeping Practices in the Philippines.  First Edition. National Apiculture Research  Training and Development Institute. Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University. Sapiling, Bacnotan, La Union, Philippines.