From page 20
the development of seed for
the sunflower, onion, lucerne,
all melons, pumpkin and
related crops, for without the
production of seeds these
crops would simply not exist.
The list is never ending, and
all of this work is done by
bees provided by beekeepers.
Therefore the role played by
beekeepers is most valuable
to our country.
Our African bees are strong
health-wise and are able to
resist many diseases that exist
in other countries.
And, as a result of bad
farming practices, such as
spraying and not giving due
regard to the importance of
bees, many northern hemi-
sphere countries have lost
their bee populations and are
completely out of bees. Our
bees swarm off prolifically
and losses are easily replaced,
but not so in those countries.
There is a move afoot, but still
in early stages of develop-
BEEKEEPING
South Africans consume 5 000 tons of honey
annually, but our beekeepers produce only
3 000 tons. ... opportunity knocks?
don't know the end picture or
rather the bottom line of
what they have set out to
accomplish, and within a
ment, to replace bees in those beekeeping is the ideal
short period the operation is
countries with bees trans-
activity for a small farmer.
abandoned.
ported from South Africa. This Switzerland has more than
Most of all they need to be
will be something for our
20 000 hobbyist beekeepers encouraged to rather press on
industry to consider in the not who produce all that country's and overcome this momen-
too distant future.
needs, so why can't we? We tary disappointment by
have the flora, and good
The latest figures at 2016
joining an association and just
sunshine, but unfortunately
were that our country
mixing with fellow
required 5 000 tons of honey erratic rainfall seasons.
beekeepers who share the
for domestic consumption.
Interested in becoming a
same interests and
Our own beekeepers
beekeeper? Too many
disappoinments.
produced about 3 000 tons,
enthusiastic would-be
There are beekeeper
resulting in a shortfall of
beekeepers venture into this
associations in all the
2 000 tons, which was
field, lay out a considerable
provinces and one should join
imported. It has been
sum of money, buy beehives
an association to keep in
projected that our consump- and related equipment, but
Continued on page 23
tion will double by 2020 and
it is up to the future
beekeeper fraternity to meet
this requirement or else South
Africa will need to import
even more honey. For South
Africa should be able to
produce all our own require-
ments, like Australia and New
Zealand, and especially so as
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