Joshua Kato
8 July 2009
book review
Kampala — ALTHOUGH bee-keeping is a lucrative venture, in Uganda, commercial projects are just beginning. Honey is produced in almost all corners of the country, although West-Nile, Bushenyi and Bugisu dominate. Previously, bees were kept mainly in a traditional setting. Also, there is still lack of information about bee-keeping.
Beekeeping: Theory and Practice, is another farming book that was published by Fountain Publishers. The book is an A to Z guide to bee-keeping. It is divided into two parts with one part focussing on understanding the bees. It shows that bees are not only matriarchal but also a well-organised community, with clear roles for every hive occupant.
They have also got a complex communication system and are intelligent. Knowing the abilities of bees helps farmers handle them. Systems of keeping bees, their taxonomy and colony cycle of honey bees are also included. These issues are covered in six chapters.
Although choosing the right equipment for apiary business is a big challenge, this book solves it. Nine chapters are dedicated to describing the basic equipment and tools a farmer needs for specific practices like pest control and pollination.
The book has the advantages and disadvantages of each type of hive. The hives include the Langstroth, the Top Bar, the KTB, the traditional bee hives like log hive, gourd hive and basket hive.
The book also takes you through a course of how to produce your own hives. Hives are the main element of bee-keeping and if a farmer can produce them personally, then the other elements fall into place. A good hive costs between sh40,000 and sh120,000. However, if a bee-keeper makes them himself, the costs are lower.
The book is full of clear illustrations and applicable examples from different areas of the country and the world. A mixture of coloured pictures and well-drawn illustrations easily catch the eye of the reader. The various products of bees are clearly stated and how to get them. On top of honey, bees also produce bees wax and propolis.
The author, Donald Rugira Kugonza, has got the experience it takes to educate. He is a holder of a Bachelors degree in agriculture and a Masters in animal science from Makerere University. He has been a fellow of the International Atomic Energy Agency, too.
The author's aim was to distil years of his teaching, learning and research experience into essential knowledge for bee-keepers and students. Also, he wrote a book that is easy to read, practically interactive and easy to understand. This is a must-have for commercial bee-keepers.
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