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Programa Regional de Apicultura y Meliponicultura (PRAM)
A cooperative programme for research and training related to TROPICAL BEES
of Utrecht University, The Netherlands, and the Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica.
Dr. Marinus J. Sommeijer, Director
P.O.Box 80.086,
3508 TB Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Phone Office: +31-30-2535425;
Residence +31-30-2734821;
Email: m.j.sommeijer@uu.nl
Open hive of the small stingless bee Tetragonisca angustula,
showing horizontal combs and storage pots with honey and pollen, Costa
Rica, C.A.
BACKGROUND
Utrecht University and UNA/CINAT have been working together in the field of beekeeping since January 1990, when a first project period was approved for funding from the Research programme of the Dutch Ministry for Development Cooperation (Research Programme DGIS). In this first period the CINAT was established, financed with a loan from the Interamerican Development Bank. This loan included only funding of the buildings and laboratory equipment.
As a result of the universitary cooperation the Centro de Investigaciones Apicolas Tropicales (CINAT) was established at the compounds of the Universidad Nacional. Prof. MSc. Henry Arce, Director of CINAT, is the major counterpart in this cooperative programme. At present eight Costarican
staff members are employed by the Universidad Nacional at CINAT.
CINAT has become operational in September 1993. The UNA provides the staff members, who have been trained since the start of the first phase of the MHO project in January 1993. Utrecht University supplied the training and scientific coaching. Apart from staff training, the first phase supported small research projects; furthermore a course on beekeeping for students of the Agronomy school of the UNA was developed and implemented.
The second phase focused on the further strengthening of CINAT so that it will be an independently operating regional centre for extension, research and training beekeeping. Project activities include continuous development of staff, both in the field of research and teaching, both tailor-made and on-the-spot, and by training abroad. Furthermore, new research lines are developed, amongst others in the fields of bee diseases and the medical quality of honey. In addition, the project focuses on setting up projects with extensionists and beekeepers and on the development of a beekeepers service centre.
Several Dutch experts from Utrecht University, one on tropical beekeeping and one on tropical ecology,
have been employed by the project.
The second phase of the PRAM project started on 1 July 1997 for a period of four years. The project period was later budgetarily neutral extended with 1 year till July 2002.
The third phase of the project started after that period.
Traditional Meliponary in Yucatan, Mexico
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The long term objectives of the main project relate to
- the development of CINAT as a regional centre of excellence;
- implementation of an extension programme directed to beekeepers and extensionists;
- developing and applying new management techniques for beekeeping with stingless bees and Africanized bees and
- investigating the possibility and feasibility for a Master course in tropical
beekeeping for the Central American region, to be developed from the regional
Licenciatura course.
The short term objectives for the present phase of the project refer to:
- Curriculum/course development
set up an advanced course Management of Tropical Bees for students of UNA and the region, as a Licenciatura specialization within the regular (new) curriculum of the School of Agronomy;
- Staff training
improving the knowledge of staff of UNA, CINAT and of students through special courses, workshops and tailor-made studies;
CINAT staff will be trained individually in their field, also in research techniques (methodology);
- Research
strengthening the research capacity of UNA and CINAT, also by setting up new research lines such as honey medicinal properties, bee diseases, etc.;
- Extension
increase the role of CINAT in extension activities;
increase the cooperation and participation of women beekeepers.
PRAM, Training objectives for rural development
Training activities (courses, workshops, seminars) for extension workers of governmental and other agricultural extension institutions.
To establish such training activities through inter-university cooperation
Cooperation with the 'National Beekeeping Programme' of the Costa Rican Ministry of Agriculture
To develop meliponiculture and beekeeping with honeybees to offer new possibilities for people in rural areas and improve the economics of many families.
PRAM, Women and beekeeping
Through special extension activities and pilot projects women are stimulated and trained to keep bees. This work is partly carried out by cooperating anthropologists and specialists in rural development
PRAM, The keeping of stingless bees as a complementary form of beekeeping
Meliponiculture is an important economic complementation, especially for those who can engage in small-scale backyard beekeeping. Mexico, the largest honey export country of the world, has exclusively small-scale production.
PRAM, Applied research and interuniversitary cooperation in the Region
Results of cooperative research can be implemented in the practice of beekeeping in Central America. Knowledge transfer about bees and beekeeping may contribute to rural development. Limiting factors for beekeeping with:
Stingless bees
For the development of an efficient way of meliponiculture the following items are being studied:
- Reproduction and multiplication of colonies
- Efficient harvest method from a hive
- Relative importance of the food plants
- Pollination perspectives of stingless bees
- Pests and diseases of domesticated bees
- Cultural tradition of beekeeping and traditional use of bee products
Africanized bees
To improve management of aggressive Africanized honeybee hives the following items are studied:
- Management adapted to high swarming rate
- Adapted management to prevent absconding
- Improvement of stock by selective breeding to solve the problem of highly defensive behaviour
- Diseases unknown for European honeybees and possible resistance against known diseases/mites
PRAM, Relation with other natural Resources
Bees, especially stingless bees, are the most important pollinators for the native neotropical flora. Research of their distribution in ecologically different zones and of their specific relation with food plants may contribute to improved management and conservation of tropical forests as well as reforestation projects.
PRAM, To develop interuniversitary cooperation
with bee research centres in Latin America, Southeast Asia and Africa
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