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Honey and beeswax have been valued since earliest times, and in many regions they are among the commodities mentioned in the earliest written records. A number of regions in the tropics and sub-tropics have a long tradition of beekeeping, which originated centuries before today's “countries” were defined. The climate and physical geography of an area helped to determine how the bees of the area evolved and which of them are capable of wider and better use today.
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The Tiv people, who inhabit most of Benue State in Central Nigeria, have had an aggressive reputation for many years, and their traditional practice of beekeeping is associated with this. One of the uses to which they are reputed to have put bees was as a weapon against unfriendly incursions into their territory.
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Kenya has many different altitude zones, each of which has a characteristic floral climax. In two zones at different altitudes (1200–1500m and 1500–1800m), where the climax vegetation still consists of indigenous species, traditional beekeeping is carried out. Particularly good honey crops in these zones are obtained from Labiatae and species of Acacia.
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A wild honeybee is indigenous to most parts of Ghana. The bees are most common in the North, and their nests are generally located in cavities in trees. The honey is much relished by the local inhabitants and any bee trees that are found are cut down, using fire to kill the bees, and chopped open to obtain it.
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Beekeeping has been practised in Malta for thousands of years, and although this Island is not a comparatively large producer of honey, it has been noted world-wide for the quality of its honey. The name Malta is derived from Melita, the name by which the island was known some 2000 years ago. Melita in turn is derived from a Greek word, Мελι meaning honey.
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The beekeeping industry in Kenya is worth many millions of shillings and plays an important part in the economy of arid areas. Beekeeping is a traditional practice, developed and tried for thousands of years, and virtually all honey in Kenya is produced by traditional methods. It was felt that, in order to increase the output of honey in the country, improved beekeeping practices should be tried.
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Beekeeping in Africa is an ancient art. Honey was an important part of early man's diet and even today provides him with a base for an alcoholic beverage. Brood was often eaten and provided a good source of protein. Trade along the east African coast predates present history: beeswax was an important commodity in early trade as it is today.
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There is little evidence regarding the importance of beeswax as an article of commerce in pre-German times (before 1885), although it is clear that the Portuguese traded in beeswax with people along the East African coast. The trade was improved by the Germans, who found that Tanganyika was an important source of beeswax. In order to upgrade its quality for use in their refining industry, they put much effort into teaching honey hunters and beekeepers how to render beeswax into clean cakes, and this led to the achievement of a high quality product.
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The bee hives commonly used by traditional beekeepers in Central Africa consist of one chamber, which makes it necessary for the bees to keep the brood, pollen and honey together. Whenever honey is taken out of this type of hive, the honey, wax, pollen, brood and propolis are removed in one mass. The mixture of all these elements together makes it almost impossible to obtain a pure, marketable product.
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The life of honeybees is profoundly affected by climate and flora. The physical and biological factors of the local environment are therefore of great significance in any development programme for honey production. The local human interests and efforts involved, and their possible potential, are also of great importance.
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Two articles by C.D. Michener (11a, 11b) on Apis mellifera in Papua New Guinea were published in 1963. This paper complements them and includes further information on the introduction and spread of honeybees in mainland PNG and describes initial developments in commercial beekeeping. The details were mainly obtained by personal communication with beekeepers and others and by personal observations.
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Since the introduction of the African bee (Apis mellifera adansonii) in South America, there have been many conflicting reports concerning the effects on beekeeping of the rapid spread of European-African (Africanized) hybrid bees. This article attempts to document the number of beekeepers in the Guianas, their beekeeping practices, and honey and wax produc tion, before the arrival of the Africanized bees. Using this information as a base, it should be possible in the future to assess the effects of Africanized bees as they become abundant in this region, and the time span over which these effects operate.
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Belize is located on the east coast of Central America, bounded on the north by Mexico and on the west and south by Guatemala. At 22,000 sq km, Belize is about twice the size of Jamaica; slightly larger than the republic of El Salavador, and is the second smallest country on the American continent. The climate is sub-tropical, and it has been demonstrated that the natural environment of Belize is very favourable to beekeeping.
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It is believed that honeybees were first introduced into Central America in Costa Rica, at an unknown date that must have been before the 1830s, when honeybees were introduced to Guatemala from Costa Rica. About 25 years later, honey bees were reported in the mountainous districts of Honduras. The recency of this introduction is noteworthy, since the Spanish had been in Central America for nearly 300 years previously, but the Yucatan Peninsula, for instance, had no honeybees until near the beginning of the 20th century.
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