Technical Characteristics and Socio-Economic Importance of Beekeeping in the Far North Region, Cameroon

Abstract

Beekeeping is a booming industry in Cameroon, thanks to the interests shown by the population in certain regions, notably Adamawa, West, North-West, and East, yet its productivity remains low. In the villages of the Far North region in particular, beekeeping is an age-old practice. A study on the technical characteristics and socio-economic importance of beekeeping has been carried out in the Far North region, with a view to contributing to the elaboration and facilitation of the development of the beekeeping sector in this zone. Ethno-beekeeping surveys of 52 beekeepers were carried out between July-August 2019 in six villages using snowball strategies, including four villages (Maga, Ngoulmoung, Modiogo, and Gamack) for the Maga subdivision and one village each for the Kaélé and Mindif subdivisions respectively. The main sections of the questionnaire concerned the socio-demographic characteristics of beekeepers, the use of hive products, and, finally, beekeepers' perception of their knowledge of beekeeping plants. It was noted that beekeeping in the area is a secondary activity (89%), mainly practiced by men (98%) and farmers (63.46%). Beekeeping practices are still predominantly traditional (68.57%). Apiaries are preferably located in orchards (37.14%). Swarm capture technical are still based on traditional technical, with satisfactory hive populating rates (94.28%); however, wax remains the most common bait used by beekeepers. Beekeepers make an average of 3 visits a month, mainly to stock the apiary, monitor the hives, and harvest the honey. Insufficient supervision, financial problems, humidity, hive theft, pesticides, wind, and bush fires are the main obstacles to beekeeping in the area. Honey is the main product exploited by all beekeepers. Honey is a key element in the treatment of cough/colds (25.83%), skin ailments, and wounds (25.95%). It is also used to soothe memory disorders. Some thirty plants have been recognized by beekeepers as food resources for bees. For sustainable beekeeping, there is an urgent need to review the issue of hive management and suitable technical for a better yield of hive products in the area.