Honey bee production / Bee keeping

Bees are hard working insect that gives us honey (what else..). As what they say, honey is the only food that never spoils. Honey is primarily from the nectar of plants on which the honey bees extracted and deposits it in their honey comb.

It is high time to invest in the honey bee production. Currently, USA production is very down. They are experiencing a mass bee death with unknown etiology since last year and currently it is still on going. And if their production is down it only means that they need to import from other countries like the Philippines.

Here is an article about Honey Bee production.

Suitable areas for rearing native honey beesColonies of native bees could easily be established in areas where there are plenty of flowering plants throughout the year. Bees in these areas will practically yield more honey.

Having diversified farms, Cavite and Batangas provide good foraging grounds for bee colonies. In Quezon where coconut palms flower throughout the year, bee colonies under coconut plantations would just be alright. Mindanao is another good area to raise honey bees.

One practical method of assessing the suitability of an area for beekeeping is counting the number of wild bee colonies. If the density of bee colonies is high, it means that the area is suitable for bee culture.

Transferring wild colonies of bees to a wooden hiveBolo or ax may be needed in exposing the colony of native honey bees. Determine the number of combs in the hive. Spray worker bees with small amount of water to prevent bees from flying. A little amount of smoke is needed to drive worker bees away from the first comb. By means of a sharp stainless knife, cut the base of the first comb. Oftentimes, this comb does not contain brood (immature bees) or honey. Using water and smoke, do the same to the other combs.

Fix the comb with capped brood (pupal stage) on the center of the wired frame. To do this, cut evenly the base of the comb. Place the comb below the wired frame and cut through the middle section of the comb by using the wire as guide. Now, could push half of the comb through the wires. Tie the comb to the top bar by means of a plastic straw. Bees will begin to cluster outside the combs because of the disturbance. Occasionally, examine this cluster to see if the queen is with them. One or two combs with capped brood is enough for the new hive depending on the total population of the feral or wild colony. Be sure that the comb attached to the frame would be totally covered by bees after the operation.

Now, look for the queen. Among the bees in the colony, she has the longest abdomen. If you find her, grasp her wings gently with you two fingers. Do not hold her on the abdomen. Put her on the cage together with five newly emerged worker bees. After covering the cage, tie it below the top bar adjacent to the comb. With the queen and two combs on the box, you are now ready to transfer all bees to the box. Give the queen a handful of bees. Some of these bees will guide the remaining bees to the new hive. Apply some smoke to the cluster of bees remaining in the old hive to facilitate the process of bee transfer. After all bees have transferred, bring the box to the desired location.

Source: greenstone.org

Picture from:advocacy.britanica


52 thoughts on “Honey bee production / Bee keeping”

  5. dear arnold…i am interested to start a new hobby/business as a beekeeper/honey-producer. there are 2 colonies in my garden and i would like to make good use of these. i am totally new to this…

  7. I am interesting to start beekeeping. Would like to ask if you have guidelines on how to import queen bee to the Philippines. Thanks really appreciate it.

  8. I am interested to start my beekeeping. How do i start with it. I think
    I can do it in mygarden or terrarce. Pls help me how. More power!

  9. our foundation will be having a bee culture in a small community but where sorounded by sugarcane plantation. is this the ideal place. any suggestion for what we will going to to as alternative.

  10. Would like to start small honeybee farm here in Negros searching where I can find a supplier.

  11. Hi, im currently working in Department of Agriculture in Region 1. Can i ask f wat will be the status of Honeybee production during rainy season where the blooming of flowering plants are minimal since the by product of honeybee comes from the nectar of the flowers?

  12. Hi, im currently working in Department of Agriculture in Region 1. Can i ask f wat will be the status of Honeybee production during rainy season where the blooming of flowering plants are minimal.

  13. Bernie,

    During the rainy season, you feed the bees with sugar so they don’t starve.

    eric

  14. Question: How much does honey sell now? Which source is closest to Manila? I might need about 10 kg soon for a project.

  16. Sir you can contact our Office – Office of the Provincial Agriclturist for your supply of honey. we are willing to ship your order.

    072 -700 1548 look for mrs. imelda J. Sannadan or you can also text me 09053710082.

    Our honey sells for 350/kg. this pure La Union Honey, our ONE TOWN ONE PRODUCT

  17. Our honey sells for 350/kg. this pure La Union Honey, our ONE TOWN ONE PRODUCT.

    072 -700 1548 look for mrs. imelda J. Sannadan or you can also text me 09053710082.

  19. I just want to know if I can start a beekeeeping in Romblon and I would like to know the nearest person whom I could buy a colony to start.

  21. there are bees which are native of the philippines and i do believe there are some that are also imported

  27. How much is the primary capital for the beginner??,,and do we a good market for this business??,,just in case where is the nearest station of my honey??, i live in quezon province,,tnx GOD BLESS!!!!!

  30. Hi i’m an Australian beekeeper and i would like to have some comunication there with a Philippine beekeeping family .

  32. i would like to know how to start a small scale honeybee farming. i’m from bulakan, bulacan. is it posible to raise honeybee farming here?
    thank you..

  33. hi po. pwede po ba malaman if magkano po yung starting capital para sa gantong biz.
    .
    from cam. sur..tnx!!

  34. hi po. pwede po ba malaman if magkano po yung starting capital para sa gantong biz.
    .
    from cam. sur..tnx!!

  35. hello there! i like to start a small honey bee farming and i like to know where can i buy the honey bee queen and how to transport it to its proper place? thank you! GOD bless!

  37. im looking for queenn bee my old one had just died ive lost contact with my last supplier pls help me. thanks

  38. i’m already finish seminar for bee keeping in slu baguio.now,i want to enhance and prosper my knowledge regarding bee keeping.where im going to ojt.where is the place of bee farm close in manila phil?

  39. I’m planning to start a small beekeeping business. Can somebody help me with infos on how much do I need initially for start-up capial, needed area, and from where can I buy needed resources. I am from Cotabato City. Pls. email me at mpdedz@yahoo.com

  41. Dear Madam, Sir,

    My name is Alexis. I am currently working in an international program called LEGATO (http://www.legato-project.net). I am conducting a study in Los Baños on the impact of rice fields on feral and managed honeybees populations. The aim of my study is to understand if rice field have an impact on the honeybee heealth, and how. I will study honeybees from the wild, and also would like to get in touch with beekeepers in the Laguna region. Do you know anybody who would be interested in participating in my study?

    Thank you very much,

    Best regards,

    Alexis B.

  42. I’m checking into starting a business in commercial bee keeping in the Philippines. Can you provide me with any information that would be help full?? I have worked with the University of Wisconsin , Madison in bee research.

  43. hi! im currently working with my feasibility study.. and i got interested in this kind of production.. is there any place in cebu or near cebu that could be a great place for beekeeping? thank you

  44. hi! im currently working with my feasibility study.. and i got interested in this kind of production.. is there any place in cebu or near cebu that could be a great place for beekeeping? i think this is a good study. hope you can help me regarding with this. thank you…

  45. hai to everybody i am kevin and a student,,, taking up entomology and my field is on beekeeping production,,,,

    i am looking for a good thesis title,,,, i would like to asked help and ideas from all of you

  46. hi po gsto ko sana gnito busnees my farm ako mlpit din ang sapa din mrmi puno khoy.. paaqnu po ang umpisa ng honeybees?

  48. Hi! We are a manufacturing company located in Subic producing high class assorted fruit fillings, jams and glazes for more than 10 years now.

    I am currently looking for possible supplier of honey for our new product.
    We need a supplier than can supply in bulk but we need the price also to be competitive. We will need a sample first and technical sheet so we can perform a trial before we order in bulk.

    For interested supplier, you can send the quotation to this emaill address jamie@dlanaturals.com

  49. hi,
    im looking for queen bee supplier, my old has just died can you give me one ,im here in cavite, thanks.

  50. I am from naga city. Would like to start up honey beekeeping and honey production. Where can i find suppliers of bee colony?

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