African bees potential

African bee disease research             by Mwangi Mumero

African bees hold the key to unravelling resistance mechanisms for diseases that have decimated colonies in Europe and the United States, a new joint study by the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (Icipe) and the Pennsylvania State University Center for Pollinator Research, now says.

The study findings published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE indicates that honey bee population in East Africa appear largely resistant or tolerant of parasites and pathogens that threaten bee populations in other parts the world.

The East African bees are also not significantly affected by environmental toxins, according to the study.

 “Our results suggest that the common causes for colony losses in the United States and Europe – parasites, pathogens and pesticides – do not seem to be affecting Kenyan bees, at least not yet,” said Christina Grozinger, professor of entomology and director of the Center for Pollinator Research at Penn State.

Researchers further note that while more than 90 percent of he honey bee colonies in the US contain pesticide residues, only four chemical residues were detected in the colonies sampled among the East African bees.

 “The low level of pesticides in hives from across Kenya, particularly when compared to levels in developed countries, suggests pesticide residues play only a limited role in honey bee health in Kenya at this time”, noted the study.

Researchers also found that bees appear resilient to a fungal parasite, Nosema apis, as well as three honey bee viruses namely deformed wing virus (DWV), black queen cell virus (BQCV) and acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV).

 “Our East African honey bees appear to be resilient to these invasive pests, which suggests to us that the chemicals used to control pests in Europe, Asia and the United States currently are not necessary in East Africa,” said Dr. Elliud Muli, the lead icipe beekeeping scientist on the study and a senior lecturer in entomology at South Eastern Kenya University.

According to the researchers, African bee keepers should avoid aggressive chemical treatments for these diseases since the honey been health systems seem entirely unaffected.

While African bees may be resistant to common diseases affecting colonies in the West, researchers observe that decline in populations is instead tied to loss in habitat and deforestation as cities expand and pristine habitat is converted into agricultural and other uses.

This has reduced availability of bee food in form of nectar and pollen as well as water.

The value of bees in food pollination across the world is immense. According to the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), bees pollinate 71 of the 100 food crop species in the world.

“Honey bees pollinate many food crops as well as those important for economic development, and their products, like honey and wax, are vital to the livelihood of many families. Their decline would have profound impacts across the continent,” said Harland Patch, research scientist in entomology at Penn State.

Although estimates vary, the global value of insect pollination services provided for the most part by honey bees was recently placed at $US 212 billion worldwide, equivalent to just under 10 percent of total food production for human consumption.

In Kenya, only 20 percent of an estimated 100,000 metric tonnes honey production potential has been tapped in Kenya, according to the National Farmers Infomration Service (NAFIS).

With over 80 percent of the country comprising arid and semi-arid areas, honey production potential is high and can becoem a major economic activity in these regions.

Notable for their high honey production- Kitui and Baringo Counties produce most of the honey consumed in the country.

Even with the increased uptake of modern hives such as the Kenya Top Bar and Langstroth hives, over 80 percent of the honey countrywide comes from traditional log hives.

Experts say that the quality of honey is affected by the type of hive, methods of harvesting and processing among other factors.

The farmers lack adequate skills on managing bees and handling hive products. Farmers also lament on limited access to appropriate beekeepign equipment, extension services and local and international markets.