FINAL PROJECT REPORT

Transcription

1 FINAL PROJECT REPORT Title Bee Diversity and Honey Production for Food Security ID number 230 Thematic Area Project Period (Start date) Project Period (End date) Institutions (Partner Unit) Institutions (Embrapa Unit) Project Co-leaders (full name, first name first) (Partner Institution coleader) Project Co-leaders (full name, first name first) (Embrapa co-leader) Productivity Enhancing Technologies July 2011 August 2013 Mekelle University, Ethiopia Embrapa Acre Mohammed Tilahun Patricia Drumond

2 - Describe in a short and accurate way what the project was about, how it was implemented and the main results achieved. Max 4000 characters. The Bee Diversity and Honey Production for Food Security project is about to explore the diversity of bees used for honey production and the influence of genetic makeup of honeybees on honey production in Tigray region, Ethiopia. It is also to explore the influence of bee plants in the environment on quality variation of honey. The diversity of honeybees in the region is assessed through questionnaire survey with 290 beekeepers. Molecular as well as morphometric analysis of honeybee samples were carried out to characterize the bee diversity. Bee samples collected from hives in Tigray region were subjected to molecular analysis of mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite mapping in Brazil at the University of Sao Paulo. In addition, the right forewing, abdominal hair length and hind leg parameters were measured at Mekelle University. Honey samples were also collected to characterize the type of honey in association with its botanical origin. The molecular analysis result shows that the honeybee species used in Tigray is only one but with high within population variations. The morphometric analysis indicated that the species have five clusters that are the subspecies of Apis mellifera. However, distinguishing such subspecies with our naked eye is a problem. The diversity on cold highland and warm lowland differs. The survey result indicated that the local people are also using Apis florea, and stingless bees as honey producing insects from the wilderness. Apis florea in Tigray migrated from Sudan due to the change in environmental condition in Sudan. The experimental trial on honey yield potential and adaptation of the subspecies at lowland, midland and highland areas is still running. Honey quality analysis of the project is also expected to be completed in May The project also worked on building the capacity of local community with queen rearing techniques of grafting, splitting and miller methods. A combination of miller and splitting methods has been accepted easily by the local farmers. In this project 80 farmers are trained and the training is continuing through peer-to-peer network training. - Annex 1 - Please 00118_01_8 - Planned (as in contract) X Implemented Activities complete and attach _BEE DIVERSITY REPORT (1) the file that was sent to you by . Save it in Excel format "xls, xlsx or xlsm". (Title)

3 - Describe the results, products and outcomes obtained in the project, including the contributions to product, process or public policies innovations; human resources training through capacity building; and technology transfer. Max 2000 characters. 1. The honeybee species managed under traditional and modern hives for the purpose of honey production by farmer beekeepers in Tigray regional state in Ethiopia is only one species i.e Apis mellifera. This has been studied from the Mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite mapping of bee samples. The morphometric analysis provided evidence on subspecies variations. 2. The morphometric analysis result revealed that large within population difference on the molecular analysis is due to the differences in subspecies of Apis mellifera. It is found that the Apis mellifera subspecies in the region are A.m.mellifera, A.m.Jementica, A.m.Scutelata, A.m.monticola and a hybrid group. A.m.Jementica is highly abundant on lowland warm and dryland areas. The diversity of honeybees is less on highland when compared with lowland and midland. 3. Other important bee species used by local residents in the wilderness are: a. Apis florea: This species has been migrated from Sudan due to the high environmental degradation. Farmers recognize this bee species in the north western part of Tigray regions since 2000E.C or 2008 G.C. Due to this reason this bee species is locally named as Millennium bee. b. Stingless bee: Farmers are hunting the high-priced honey of stingless bee in Tigray usually from lowland areas. Despite its high price honey it is highly valued for its medicinal value. Very few farmers have started domesticating the stingless bee in the region. 4. Survey result indicates that farmer beekeepers understood high production of honey is expected from lowland and midland areas and very less on highland areas. 5. Three apiary sites established, fenced with mesh wire and equipped with hives, colonies and accessory equipment that can be used to conduct further researches. 6. One MSc and one undergraduate students supported under this project. 7. Fourteen (14) farmer beekeepers are trained as trainers from seven (7) different districts in the region. - Describe what was the most relevant result achieved and indicate which results could be scaled up, and how, in your opinion, that could be done. Describe the potential replicability of these results. Max Knowing the diversity of bees and their potential merits is important to keep diversity and get benefit from the diversity according to their potential. In this project we found that, farmers recognize the difference between colonies with regard to their honey production and reproduction behavior. For example A.m.monticola, A.m. scutelata and A.m.mellifera are known to be bred easily during queen rearing and have high tendency of swarming. These bees produce good brood even during the dry season. These bees are also claimed to be highly aggressive. However A.m.jementica is not easy to multiply but has high honey yield in lowland and midland areas. Therefore to get benefits out of such natural diversity, doing the

4 2000 characters diversity assessment on a wider scale at national level will be important to get the big picture of diversity before choosing traits for further breeding. For example if careful breeding of the bee races is made, it is possible to increase the genetic frequency for the most wanted gene in the bee population. Otherwise such bees are also naturally crossbreeding and the outcome can be to the unwanted direction. This kind of research can also be done throughout Africa because one of the major reasons mentioned by women beekeepers in Tigray not to be involved in the beekeeping sector is due to the aggressive nature of bees. - Describe the expected impacts of the project results. Max 2000 characters. Apis mellifera race identification in the region is the first of its kind and will encourage new research ideas in the area of bee adaptation to different hives and climatic conditions and breeding of bees. The Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Development, Tigray Agricultural Research Institute and Relief Society of Tigray are working on development of the beekeeping sector in the region that can make use of the experimental results of honey productivity and honey quality analysis. The bee diversity result is communicated to the university community and participants of the APITRADE AFRICA 2012 which has drawn the attention of professionals towards further bee research. In Tigray region most farmers are buying colonies from local bee colony market. These bees are usually coming from highland areas. This practice obviously has impact on adaptation and productivity of the colonies since they are transported from highland to lowland areas. In addition to this, possible disease transmission is a risk for beekeepers. Therefore queen rearing training that is now provided to 80 farmers will reach to at least 800 beekeepers within two years due to the continuous follow up and peer-to-peer network training. The price of one colony is about 63USD which means by multiplying good colonies a farmer beekeeper can save 63 USD per colony added to his apiary. Some colonies are producing up to 50 kg honey per harvest per hive and others are producing 10kg per harvest per hive. This average value will increase in the lowland and midland areas to at least 40kg per harvest per hive. White honey produced in the region has double price compared with red colored honey. when the quality analysis and the association with botanical origin is completed the bee plants that bees collect to make white honey will be included in the vegetation rehabilitation program of the region to increase the value of the rehabilitated lands from bee product harvesting.

5 - Describe prospects for continuation of project activities, including possible new partnerships, if any. Max 5000 characters. Mekelle University has recognized the importance of bees as one of the livelihood means for the local community in the region and good ecosystem health drivers. Due to this fact the University is funding a new project each year to establish Bee Breeding Center as one of center of excellence in bee research. The goal of the unit is to identify the most adaptable and productive subspecies of honey bees in the dryland area and improve the population of such gene in the region. It will also work on trial experiments of equipment used in the beekeeping sector. This unit will make use of the three apiary sites established by the Bee Diversity and Honey Production for Food Security project as research sites. The project has already started working jointly and is willing to continue the experiments. The college of dryland agriculture and natural resource of Mekelle University has also partnership with University of Ghent in Belgium and private USAID funded projects in Tigray regional state that works on queen rearing and hive prototype verification. These apiary sites can get additional support from the projects and the established assets will also be used by the projects. The apiary sites will be used as farmers' training centers on beekeeping. - Describe the issues When the project was designed, it was assumed molecular analysis encountered during the and honey quality analysis to be conducted in Brazil: molecular project implementation analysis at the University of São Paulo and honey quality analysis at and how they were Embrapa Meio-Norte. However, due to the delay in sending bees to addressed. Max 2000 Brazil, the entire work plan was hindered, making us miss a major characters. rainy season. To compensate this we requested extension of the project for six months and the approved extension was only three months. Similarly the honey sample collected from nine potential honey producing districts of Tigray region couldn t be sent to Brazil due to the problems of customs office in Ethiopia. To solve this problem the project support one MSc student to conduct the analysis in Ethiopia this is now being carried out by the researcher. Purchase of materials for grafting and honey containers was another obstacle during the project implementation. These materials are not produced and sold in Ethiopia. Our participation on APITRADE AFRICA 2012 held in Addis Ababa created a good opportunity to get such materials easily. Morphometric analysis was time and labor demanding activity and the project hired a contract worker for three months to solve the problem. Vehicle problem was solved by paying mileage per Kilometer travel to other projects in the university. Small programs

6 and books that are helpful for morphometric characterization have been provided by the producers as gifts by communicating them through official university letter and on . A book from ABC TAXA provided from Belgium and Bemorph software for discoidal shift and cubital index measurement offered from England. - Describe, in bullet points, the key lessons learned during the implementation of project activities. Max 2000 characters. Creating opportunities for farmers to be trained by other trainedfarmers opened their heart and build better trust of the technology /knowledge/. Relying on the infrastructure available in Brazil to carry out some analysis using samples from Ethiopia requires a better planning as there are several bureaucratic issues to overtake in both countries. Beekeeping in Tigray region is not only important due to honey production but also an incentive for revegetation of degraded open communal lands. Farmers feedback on new technology distribution on beekeeping is important. The variation on honey yield of honeybees in Tigray is high even for colonies under similar management and hive type due to type of subspecies that vary in adaptation to different climatic conditions. Distinguishing all Apis mellifera subspecies with naked eye is difficult. Good communication should be present between the two project co-leaders to solve problems of the project implementation. - Briefly, describe your suggestions to improve project implementation. Include any additional relevant information. Max 2000 characters. Building the capacity of researchers and local institutions can improve the implementation of projects that will be designed under partnership between Brazil and Africa. This partnership, however, would be more effective if all issues related to sample exchange among countries were clarified before starting the project. If researchers capacity and institution capacity with equipment are improved the project can be run with other funds and possible partnerships can easily be sought. This can also improve the sustainability of the project impact. In addition, the Market place team should visit the projects onsite and create awareness at each institution where grant is made. This can improve feedback mechanism and trust about further requests of financial or time extension to be fruit full. The project co-leaders visit should also be planned in the beginning of the project to design and understand the realities on ground. When the first contract agreement is signed, it would be better to include the signatures of all leaders in hierarchies in the institution to be aware about the project activities and purpose of the grant.

7 - List the references of publications effectively published. LEANDRO R S, ADDISSU G A, MOHAMED T, ZENEBE A, PATRÍCIA M D, MARIA C A. (2012). MITO-CHONDRIAL AND MICROSATELLITES POLYMORPHISM IN ETHIOPIAN HONEYBEE (pp445). ANAIS DO X ENCONTRO SOBRE ABELHAS RIBEIRÃO PRETO, 25 a 28 de julho de 2012.

8 Annex 1: 00118_01_8 - Planned (as in contract) X Implemented Activities _BEE DIVERSITY REPORT (1) Technical Activities Planned Activity Planned Activities Timeline Status* Indicator Verifier Observation A1 A2 A3 Preliminary survey, bee sampling and morphological analysis for diversity assessement Bee sampling and Molecular analysis Apiary site selection and establishment at the three agroecological zones June-July /2011/ July- September /2011/ September- Oct /2011/ A4 Honey sampling Nov- December /2011/ A5 A6 Focus group discussion with model beekeepers on traditional queen rearing methods colony acquisition and preparation for honey yield experimental trial January- Feb /2012/ July /2012/ Completed Completed Completed Completed Completed Completed on two sites survey report, morphological classification result report DNA and Mitocondrial mapping conducted Established apiary site Collected honey samples Focus group discussion conducted colonies availed at established experimental apiary sites Survey report and morphological characteristic difference table for Apis mellifera subspecies Molecular analysis report Three sites at lowland, midland and highland agroclimatic situations selected, fenced, equiped with hives and colonies Honey quality analysis is being conducted Best seasons for queen rearing identified for different agroecologies, local constraints of queen rearing methods known Thirty two (32) colonies availed for experimental trial at the three sites (15 at higland, 15 at midland and 2 at lowland) morphological result used to start the honey yield experiment DNA and Mitocondrial analysis couldn't give clear result on the species type and subspecies level category The lowland site couldn't be colonized with bees due to the poor rainfall distribution Honey sample delivery to Brazil was not possible due to bureaucratic issues Well conducted except that farmers do not have enough time to spend with us due to crop harvest season Some farmers are not willing to sale their colony that we identified during the morphological analysis

9 A7 A8 Queen rearing training (first round) for trainers at Mekelle University Honey yield experimental trial August /2012/ September- Nov /2012/ Completed Under implementation Training for trainers completed Five sub-species each replicated three times Participant list Data is being collected from miland and highland apiary sites Well conducted Data collection on molecular and morphological parameters delaid it A9 A10 A11 A12 A13 A14 Honey physico chemical analysis Training on Queen rearing by trained trainers Honey yield experimental trial repeated (2) Experience sharing visit to Ethiopia by 1 Brazilian researcher to Ethiopia Reflection on grafting method by trained trainers and developing locally adoptable queen rearing method Honey yield experimental trial repeated (3) October- December /2012/ January- March /2013/ March - May /2013/ December /2013/ June /2013/ September- Nov /2013/ Under implementation Under implementation Different honey types subjected to standard honey quality analysis Trained trainers creat peer networks in their nieghbor report Each Trained-trainer is trianing five nieghbors about queen rearing using miller, grafting and spliting mehtod Not initiated experimental set up data on honey yeild and adaptation pontetial of the five subspecies collected Not initiated visit carried out Report of experience shared Completed Reflection session conducted Merits and demerits of grafting method understood Not initiated Experimental set up Data on honey yield and adaptation potential of the 5 subspecies recoreded One MSc student is attached with the project and doing the analysis in Ethiopia due to the failure to send the honey sample to Brazil It is a continues process that we follow up even after the end of the project waiting the first round experiment result Delaid due to the delay of the workshop Needs the first and second round trials to be completed first

10 A15 A16 Experience sharing visit to Brazil by 1 Ethiopian researcher Honey Quality standardization and closing workshop May /2013/ December /2013/ *Not Initiated, Under Implementation or Completed. Not initiated visit carried out report of experience shared Replanned for June 2014 workshop held quality of Tigray honey determined Used the opportunity of the forum to visit the bee research units waiting the honey quality analysis result to be completed

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