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FOOD SECURTIY
Beekeeping
Beekeeping is a very interesting and profitable venture that can
be combined with other ventures or jobs with ease. Keeping bees is
practiced by hundreds of people in the Netherlands as a profession
or a hobby. Together, Dutch beekeepers have 40,000 to 80,000
beehives spread all over the country. By managing their hives, they
ensure the pollination of all sorts of vegetables, fruit and seed
crops. The annual total beekeeping turnover for the Dutch economy
is estimated at 1 billion euro. However, the income of the
beekeepers for this service is relatively low and the economic
yield of the honey is also negligible in comparison with the
contribution honeybees make to agriculture and
horticulture.Furthermore, the honeybee is also very valuable for
nature in the Netherlands. Honeybees pollinate about 15% of wild
plants. Some of these plants mainly depend on honeybees for seed
formation and thus for their survival. This makes man-kept bees
crucial for biodiversity in nature. The beekeeping profession has
changed drastically since the Industrial Revolution due to the
influx of machinery. And as time has progressed, the machinery that
has been developed has become more advanced and affordable.
Equipment like honey extractors, wax extractors, bee smokers,
presses, filters, storage equipment and protective clothing have
advanced. These innovations have made beekeeping affordable,
profitable and easier to do.
Beekeepers, advisors and teachers who have been working in the
Dutch beekeeping sector, some of them with considerable
international work experience, are registered as experts with PUM.
Not only is their equipment very advanced, but the methods used to
cultivate and harvest the honey are also state of the art as
well.
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AREAS OF EXPERTISE
PUM senior bee experts are eager to assist beekeepers and other
stakeholders in the beekeeping sector with a range of beekeeping
issues:• Overview of apiary location and management• Various bee
species• Mites and parasites, diseases and treatment, hygiene•
Pollination• Supervision of quality control in various aspects of
beekeeping
and honey production; standardisation of types of honey• Value
added bee products: wax, pollen, propolis, royal jelly,
venom and other processed products• Supplemental nutrition• Hive
and bee management: queen breeding and queen
selection, swarming, dividing, etc.• Protective clothing•
Construction of beehives and beekeeping equipment• Bee biology,
lifecycle and bee species & races• Types of bee hives• Hive
management, preparation & maintenance• Monitoring bee colonies,
tools & equipment• Site selection of apiaries• Ecology of bee
meadows, bee gardens• Pests, diseases and other nuisances•
Ecological safe treatments• Harvesting, extracting/processing
honey• Extracting other hive products• Queen rearing and
production• Record keeping and analysis• Marketing bee products
(adding value)• Training, extension services
IMPROVING KNOWLEDGE & SKILLSThe requesting party entered
into a multi-year agreement with PUM in order to improve the
knowledge and skills of local capacity builders, technicians,
master beekeepers and beekeepers. A number of Dutch experts gave
advice on bee products, beehive production and other aspects of
beekeeping. Training sessions, theoretical as well as practical,
were organised and conducted for capacity builders as well as for
master beekeepers and technicians. This led to a better performance
of the local beehives. Through attention paid to hygiene and
cleanliness, bee diseases were prevented. It also resulted in
better methods for the harvesting, processing and marketing of bee
products.
CUSTOMER EXAMPLES
BEEKEEPERS TRAININGA beekeeping association was expanding,
because there was considerable interest in beekeeping among farmers
in the surrounding area. Beekeeping was genuinely assisting farmers
in raising their incomes. However, the members of the association
lacked beekeeping knowledge, skills and experience. A seasoned
Dutch expert advised the management of the association and
individual members on all aspects of beekeeping, from hive
management to the harvesting, processing and marketing of honey.
Furthermore, members of the management team attended a training
course in the Netherlands.
QUALITY IMPROVEMENTThe applicant is a company that processes
honey originating from small beekeepers who are members of
different associations. These associations are essential for the
wellbeing of the beekeepers. The company was suffering from the
fact that it could not ensure a reliable supply of bee products of
good quality. The PUM expert discovered that most of the colonies
were severely infected with diseases. It was so severe, that
together with the requesting company, he liaised with the Ministry
of Agriculture to inform the authorities about this disturbing
situation. Together with a lecturer at a university and the
chairman of the National Society of Beekeepers, the expert drafted
a comprehensive report for the benefit of the Minister of
Agriculture to address this serious issue. Ultimately, not only the
company benefitted from the presence of the PUM expert but also a
wider group of stakeholders.
HOW CAN WE HELP SHAPE YOUR BUSINESS?
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Apply for advice online or contact a PUM representative in your
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