Status of Honey Bee (Apis mellifera L.) Industry in Cameroon: A Review Article

INTRODUCTION

Beekeeping is an environmental friendly activity which is practiced by a number of persons around the world. In Cameroon, beekeeping is an ancient activity practiced in most forest and savannah areas. Apiculture which refers to beekeeping, is the management of honey bee colonies for pollination of crops, production of honey and other products (Bradbear, 2009). Regarding the fact that Cameroon was categorized in 2018 as a medium-level developing country, with a multidimensional poverty index of 0.244 (United Nations Development Programme, 2018), beekeeping is an important livelihood activity especially in developing countries since it alleviates poverty and maintains natural biodiversity (MASHAV, 2016; Lowore et al., 2018). Beekeeping plays a great role directly by providing valuable output such as honey, bee wax, queen and bee colonies, and other products such as pollen, royal jelly, bee venom and propolis, and indirectly by providing nutritional, economic and ecological security (ARSD, 2000). Honey is also valued in Cameroon for the treatment of coughs, skin infections, and burns (Ingram and Njikeu, 2011).

The tremendous benefits of beekeeping has led to the promotion of bee farming as a conservation positive activity in Cameroon as elsewhere; it is assumed to inhibit forest clearance, protect and aid forest management, and provide vital pollination services for forest ecosystems and agriculture (Nurse et al., 1995; Hausser and Mpuya, 2004; Timmer and Juma, 2005; Brown, 2006; Biovision, 2007; Russell, 2008). The government of Cameroon recognized the importance of bee farming sector and its role in poverty alleviation by creating a national department in 2006 in the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock responsible for bee farming. Beekeeping is practiced in all the ten regions of Cameroon since it is an income generating activity which demands little start-up capital.

Due to the vast variability and diversity of the agroecological zones of Cameroon, production of honey varies from region to region. The major areas of honey production in Cameroon are the Adamawa savannah forest plateau, followed by the Northwest, West montane agriculture zone and Southwest highlands forests. However, some honey is produced in the East lowland forests, often wild harvested, as in the North and Extreme North (Ingram, 2009). Data from 2000 indicate that Cameroon had 12,000 beekeepers with 63,000 beehives and an average production of honey per beehive per year of 15 liters (Ingram, 2009). In 2009, the Northwest region was the second major production area of honey in Cameroon, with about 4,500 beekeepers producing an estimated 92,000 liters of honey (Ingram, 2009). Most of the honey produced in Cameroon is consumed in Cameroon but the un-conducive economic climate, combined with high levels of corruption, have created a consistently difficult business climate, illustrated by Cameroon’s low ranking on the ease of doing business index of 166 out of 190 (World Bank, 2019). Irrespective of the socioeconomic, technical and pathological constraints associated with beekeeping in Cameroon (Fotso et al., 2014; Meutchieye et al., 2018a), Cameroon’s national beekeeping and honey production rank first in central Africa region.

Regardless of the diverse agro-ecological zones of Cameroon, a majority (91%) of colonies are made up of African honey bee, Apis mellifera adansonii usually yellowish in colour (Meutchieye et al., 2018b). Both traditional, mobile bars and Kenyan Top Bar hives are practiced by beekeepers in Cameroon (Niba and Ingram, 2008; Mbogning et al., 2011). Bee farming in Cameroon is progressively increasing as the number of beekeepers increases. This could be attributed to the fact that training beekeepers has been the avenue developed by NGOs and other small relief services in rural communities of Cameroon western highlands since the nineties (Njia, 1999; Abongu, 2001; Niba and Ingram, 2008; Baimenda, 2010).

It is, therefore, important to understand the status of honey bee industry in Cameroon so as to develop strategies which could help ameliorate production while reducing unemployment rate and alleviating poverty.

BEEKEEPING SECTOR IN CAMEROON

Beekeeping is an integral part of farming in most regions of the world and can either be practiced in small or large scales. In most countries, bee farming is done traditionally, while some farmers practice modern techniques of beekeeping. The Republic of Cameroon is made up of ten regions which include: Extreme North, North, Adamawa, East, Centre, South, Littoral, West, Northwest and Southwest. These regions have the potentials for beekeeping though there is a great distinction in the amount of honey produced per region. Nonetheless, the beekeeping sector in Cameroon is highly fragmented; therefore, the actual production and growth levels are not accurately quantified.

1. Honey Production System

Honey production system in Cameroon is fast improving from traditional to modern bee hives practices. In most parts of the country, beekeepers are on the move of modifying their production system (from traditional cylindrical designed hives, mobile bar to Kenyan top bar) so as to meet up with production. It has been as a culture in many parts of the country to adopt a particular production system which is cost benefit. For instance, in Oku-Northwest region, a majority (87%) of beekeepers use traditional cylindrical designed hives, made from bamboo, raffia and grasses, and traditional grass smokers during harvest (Ingram et al., 2020). According to these beekeepers, traditional hives are influenced by customs, the low weight, the availability of resources in the forest at no financial cost and easy construction method (Ingram et al., 2020). In the Mayo Banyo highlands-Adamawa region, most hives (95%) are fixed with mobile frame, built with available materials and conical in shape but of low quality (Fig. 1a) (Meutchieye et al., 2018b), as well as Kenyan top bar hives (Fig. 1b) (Mbogning et al., 2011). In fear of theft and wild bush fire, most beekeepers place their hives at 1~6 m on tree tops. Both traditional and modern bee hives are practiced by beekeepers in most parts of the country. Both governmental (MINEPIA) and non-governmental (ANCO, HONCO, BERUDEP, SNV, WHINCONET, Guiding Hope and Oku Honey Cooperative) organization are putting effort to enhance the production of quality beekeeping products.

Fig. 1a.

Example of beehives used in Mayo Banyo Division (Meutchieye et al., 2018a).

Fig. 1b.

Bee hives used in Nkoteng. Source: ERD, 2018.

2. Honey Production and Other Hive Products

Beekeeping is an ancient activity practiced in Cameroon since the nineties (Njia, 1999). Honey production being one of the direct contributions of beekeeping practices (ARSD, 2000), it adds more value to the country’s economy through sales and job provision. In Cameroon, honey production is quite low comparatively to its numerous apicultural resources needed for beekeeping. This could be attributed to poor management practices such as the use of local hives, non treatment of hives, and local harvesting methods. However, the improvement of indigenous knowledge through the introduction of modern beekeeping technologies is showing a positive change in the beekeeping industry in many African countries.

Recently, in all the regions of Cameroon, majority (>70%) of installed hives are colonized (Meutchieye et al., 2018b), indicating the country’s potentials for beekeeping. Irrespective of the percentage of hives colonized, honey production varies from region to region with the Adamawa region being the most productive (about 93% of total country’s production) followed by the Northwest and West regions (Meutchieye et al., 2018b). The average number of hives per beekeeper also varies widely between regions. The national average being 11 hives and varies from 68 hives in Adamawa, 16 hives in the Northwest and 3 hives in the Southwest and West regions (Ingram and Njikeu, 2011). The total number of beekeepers in Cameroon was estimated at a minimum of 20,000 in 2009 (Republic of Cameroon, 2008).

Almost everywhere in Cameroon, honey is the most extracted (100%) beehive product (Fig. 2a), followed by bee wax (94.2%) (Fig. 2b) while propolis and pollen are far less extracted (9.6% and 3.6%, respectively) by beekeepers (Njia, 1999; Abongu, 2001; Baimenda, 2010; Fotso et al., 2014; Meutchieye et al., 2018a). Honey production and value per region is represented on Table 1. The estimated honey produced per region varies from 3.1 million liters in the Adamawa region to about 28 thousand liters in the North and Extreme north regions (Table 1). Adamawa is first in terms of wax production, followed by the Northwest, West, Southwest, South, East, North and Extreme North (Table 1). Royal jelly is equally produced in a small minute quantity. Average annual honey production per hive was estimated at 10.5 to 12.5 liters (Ingram and Njikeu, 2011). This production depends on the number of hives per farmer which is influenced by abundance of flowering savannah plants in the Adamawa region (Tchoumboue et al., 2001; Founadoudou, 2007; Mbogning et al., 2011). The interval between hive installation and harvesting is usually less than a year and most beekeepers careless about the interval (Tchoumboue et al., 2001). In Cameroon, most beekeepers carry out harvesting once a year (97%), at night (69%), with February and June being the main periods of harvest. Production of honey and other beekeeping products in Cameroon is on a rise due to increasing number of beekeepers since 2011 (INS, 2013, 2015, 2017).

Fig. 2a.

Extracted and packaged honey. Source: Photos from a beekeeper in the West Region of Cameroon.

Fig. 2b.

Pollen and Bee wax extracted. Source: Photos from a beekeeper in the West Region of Cameroon.

Table 1.

Annual average apiculture production and value per region 2003~2009

Though Cameroon has the potential for beekeeping, little reliable information on beekeeping industry in Cameroon is available.

3. Market System for Honeybee Products in Cameroon

According to Transparency International in 2009, Cameroon is a lower middle income poor country ranked as one of the most corrupt countries in the world with high incidence of bribery (141 out of 180) in 2008 with a very difficult business environment in which it operates. This problem is further exacerbated by the poor banking system (World Bank, 2009) which creates an un-conducive environment to start and maintain a good business. Until 2009 (period within which Cameroon joined the European honey market), Cameroon had no regulations on hive product quality, production and processing, imports and exports. This impacted much on the market system of apicultural products and widened consumers’ preferences on the choice of honey. Consumers prefer some honey to others due to taste, price, and the source of production. The prices of both brown and white honey varies across the country due to transportation and packaging costs (glass jars in Yaounde, plastic buckets in Oku), and increased willingness and ability to pay in the larger cities (Ingram et al., 2020). In Cameroon, increased price of beekeeping materials and hired labour could potentially influence the price of honey. The Oku white honey in the Northwest region was sought in the country’s urban areas, fetching a higher price than other honeys (Erasmus et al., 2006). The price of honey has increased from 2,000 FCFA to 4,500 FCFA and from 1,200 FCFA to 2,500 FCFA for white and brown honey respectively between 2008 to 2017 (Table 2).

Table 2.

Price of Oku white and brown honey sold by Oku Honey Co-operative

Though the price of honey is increasing, honey is being imported and sold in major cities in Cameroon (Fig. 3). Honey produced in Cameroon is also exported to other neighboring countries. A small quantity of bee wax is equally exported to neighboring countries within Central Africa and Nigeria. For instance, without considering porous road borders, it was estimated that 30,000 to 50,000 liters of honey was exported to Congo, the Central African Republic and Gabon while 50,000 to 150,000 liters to Nigeria and Chad (Ingram, 2014). The price of imported honey varies from region to region and city to city (Fig. 3). In Cameroon, imported honey is expensive (varying from 4,000 to 26,000 FCFA per liter) than domestic honey. The type and prices of the different imported honey sold in Cameroon is presented in Fig. 3.

Fig. 3.

List and prices of imported honey (Erasmus et al., 2006).

AGRO-ECOLOGY OF BEEKEEPING IN CAMEROON

The vegetative structure and climatic condition of Cameroon has given rise to five main agro-ecological zones which include: Zone I (Soudano-Sahelian), Zone II (High Guinea Savanna), Zone III (Western Highlands), Zone IV (Humid forest with mono-modal rainfall), Zone V (Humid forest with bimodal rainfall). The diverse vegetation of Cameroon encompasses four sub species of Apis mellifera which include: Apis mellifera adansonii, Apis mellifera monticolar, Apis mellifera scutellata and Apis mellifera jemenitica (David, 2017). Cameroon is rich with many species of melliferous plants which are suitable for beekeeping and a few poisonous tree species (Maisels and Forboseh, 1999; Aizen et al., 2008). A few examples of these melliferous plants include: Acanthus sp, Adamsonia digitala, Aframomum sp, Ageratum conyzoides, Albizia adianthifolia, Albizia gummifera, Albizia zygia, Arenga pinnata, Aspilia Africana, Cola sp, Erythrina senegalensis, Eucalyptus sp, Agave sisalana, Alchornea cordifolia, Arachis hypogaea and Citrus sp. The abundance of these plants species has created a favourable environment for beekeeping in Cameroon. It has been documented that honey and pollen production depends on the abundance of some plants species (Segeren et al., 1996).

THE VALUE OF BEEKEEPING IN CAMEROON

Beekeeping being an environmentally friendly activity, has contributed much economically and ecologically (Ajabush, 2018). Bees are known to pollinate many crops and the honey produced serves as food and a source of income to beekeepers, marketers and even the government.

CHALLENGES OF BEEKEEPING IN CAMEROON

Beekeepers in Cameroon are facing production constraints (Inades, 2000) including but not limited to increasing climate change and deforestation rate, absconding, pests and predators, application of toxic agro-chemicals, poor hive management, poor harvesting techniques, and existence of poisonous flowering plants.

2. Absconding

Cases of abandoned honey bee colonies could be attributed to lack of forage, incidence of pests and predators, poor harvesting techniques, sanitation problem, bad weather condition, bee diseases, drought, overgrazing, deforestation and shortage of water (Fig. 4) (Sahle et al., 2018). Many studies have reported that about 30% empty hives recorded in Cameroon resulted from absconding and poor hives handling (Founadoudou, 2007; Matso et al., 2011; Fotso et al., 2014; Meutchieye et al., 2018a).

Fig. 4.

Abandoned hives caused by invaders (termites). Source: Envoronnement-Recherche-Developpement (ERD), 2018.

3. Pests and Predators

A number of pests and predators have been identified in honey bee colonies from different regions in Cameroon. Some of which include: small hive beetle (Aethina tumida), Dynastid (rhinoceros) beetle, Wax moths (Galleria mellonella and Megaselia grisella), bee louse (Braula sp.), phorid (Megasella scalaris), and ants (Monomorium cryptobium, Dorylus molestus, Anochetus sp, Oecophylla longinoda, Camponotus chrysurus, Discothyrea mixta, Crymatogaster depressa and Tetramorium sp) (David, 2017). In the Adamawa and Northwest regions where honey production is high, most beekeepers face severe pest attack due to poor colony management which could be attributed poverty. It has been reported that ants cause severe economic loss in honey production by killing bees and subsequently robbing their products (Tesfaye, 2014). In the Adamawa region, Meutchieye et al. (2018a) observed bee combs being infested by hive moths in poorly managed hives (Fig. 5).

Fig. 5.

Bees’ comb heavily infested by Wax moth (Galleria mellonella). Source: Meutchieye et al., 2018a.

METHODS OF ENHANCING THESE CHALLENGES

Beekeepers have adopted different strategies to remedy the harmful effects of honey bee pests. Some beekeepers raise their hives at a certain height, cover with aluminium paper, and narrow the hive entrance to prevent larger insects. Most beekeepers remove old combs and practice regular visits of hives to prevent wax moth and other possible intruders. However, Meutchieye et al. (2018b) reported that pests’ invasion was very common and treatments nonexistent in the Adamawa region.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

In Cameroon, beekeeping is an ancient agricultural activity practiced in many regions. It is estimated that more than thirty thousand Cameroonians are involved in beekeeping. Both traditional and modern beekeeping techniques are adopted by beekeepers. Honey and bee wax are the main hive products extracted while pollen, royal jelly and propolis are less harvested. Though honey and bee wax are preferred, production is still low. However, honey production is rising with time due to modern practices and high demand at the domestic and export markets. Adamawa, Northwest, West and Southwest are the major honey producing regions in the country. Honey is harvested yearly and twice a year depending on the locality and management techniques adopted by the beekeeper. The country has five agro-ecological zones with abundant melliferous plant species suitable for beekeeping. Irrespective of the rich vegetation that favours beekeeping, beekeepers are faced with many constraints. Some of which include: increasing climate change and deforestation rate, absconding, pest and predators, application of toxic agro-chemicals, poor hive management, poor harvesting methods, and existence of poisonous flowering plants. Despite these constraints, Cameroon has the potentials of producing twice the present production of honey and other hive products.

It is highly recommended that:

The government of Cameroon through the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife should reinforce the strategic plan of forest management by sensitizing the local population on the detrimental effects of deforestation.

Beekeepers should be aware of the devastating effects of poor harvesting methods and empower themselves prior to harvesting.

The Ministry of Environment and Nature Protection should let known to beekeepers, the harmful effects of agrochemicals and pest on honey bee colonies.

Acknowledgments

Authors gratefully thank the KAFACI Secretariat, Rural Development Administration (RDA), National Institute of Agricultural Sciences (NIAS), Laboratory of honeybee breeding, the Republic of Korea for their cooperation through the 2020 Young Scientist Research Project. We thank the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD), the Republic of Cameroon for their international cooperation.

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