BEEKEEPING
Forget honey, it’s pollination that’s key
T
he most important role
of the beekeeping
industry is to provide a
pollination service to
farmers growing fruits, nuts,
vegetables, as well as for seed
production for farmers
growing commercial crops
such as lucerne for animal
fodder, or sunflowers for
sunflower oil. Name it, it was
grown from seed pollinated
by bees.
Some of the 2015 released
statistics are as follows:
The export fruit industry is
worth R9,8 billion,
The seed production industry
is worth R75 to R80 million,
There is a 20% demand for
increased pollination to
support these industries as
future earning income for
South African exports.
A recent report in the
Eastern Highveld Beekepers! Association
chariman Peter Clark highlights the
economic importance of pollination,
and the equally important recuperative
properties of eucalyptus trees
agricultural press stated that
100 000 beehives will be
required to pollinate the
future macadamia nut
industry,
Although unknown exactly, it
is estimated that there are
some 3 000 beekeepers in
South Africa and only nine
with more than 3 000
operating hives.
Honey consumption in South
Africa was estimated as 3 000
tons, of which only 1 400
tons was sold in supermarkets, and of which 1 600 tons
was imported. However,
throughout the country there
are uncounted hobbyist and
smaller
commercial
beekeepers
producing
honey for
local consumers that cannot be accounted
for.
Related to these figures and
the allied industries, there are
thousands of people
employed.
In virtually all intensive
farming areas of all the crops
needing pollination, the lands
have been cleared of floral
forage and many weed
species that would support
resident swarms of bees.
Continual crop spraying has
killed off almost all feral or
wild swarms as well.
So the beekeeper and his
bees are called in to provide
the pollination service
17
www.sasmallholder.co.za
required. These undertakings
are mostly on a contract basis
where the beekeeper charges
so much per hive per day
only for the pollination period
Continued on page 19