BEEKEEPING in the Cordillera remains a challenge due to pesticide use.
Edmund Benavidez, Saint Louis University Extension Institute for Small Scale Industries Foundation Inc. (SLU-EISSIF) director, said bees exposed to pesticide is considered as one of the challenges in beekeeping.
While Benavidez acknowledged farmers have to secure their main livelihood, protect their vegetable produce and utilize pesticides, bees are exposed to pesticides and poses a threat to its population.
It was learned bees can go as far as five kilometers to find forage, however, there is no guarantee that they will return alive when they reach farm areas spraying pesticides.
“We respect the farmer that they have to protect their crops,” he said.
An apiary in a 10 hectare land in Barangay Adaoay in Kabayan, Benguet established in December 2017 managed by the Provincial Government of Benguet has been experiencing this challenge in beekeeping.
Provincial Veterinary Office agricultural technologist Rocky Salupen said the first harvest was on December 2017 with close to 80 kilograms of honey and another 100 kgs on December 11, 2018.
Salupen added there could have been more honey produced if only the bees didn’t die due to exposure to pesticides.
He said the apiary only started with 10 colonies with every colony composed of 15,000 to 30,000 bees with one queen.
Salupen has been urging farmers to stop pesticide application however, this could not be easily done.
“Farmers could inform the beekeeper of the spraying of pesticide, but we do not have farming communities that will have simultaneous pesticide spraying,” he added.
The province is not losing hope.
In a bid to lessen pesticide application, a law is being pushed to go organic farming, educate stakeholders on the principles of sustainable organic farming and promote the development of organic practice.
“Through organic farming, our dependency on imported hazardous fertilizer and pesticides will be lessened and will make agricultural products free from health threatening toxic substances and to serve as an alternative environment friendly farming system,” said proponent Board Member Robert Namoro.
Almost all the 13 municipalities of the province have apiaries and beekeepers.
Doctor Miriam Tiongan, provincial veterinarian said the provincial techno demo farm in Kabayan which serves as learning site for interested groups and individuals for beekeeping and other livestock animals.
In the future, they hope to expand and not only produce honey but also other bee products.
With training an indispensable part of beekeeping, SLU-EISSIF based in Baguio City serves as a lead catalysts in the growth and development of the beekeeping industry.
For 22 years now, thousands of trainees from Camiguin, Cagayan De Oro, Bukidnon, Visayas and mostly in Cordillera region are trained by the non-government organization.
To recall, a collaboration between the Belgian government and two nongovernment organizations implemented by SLU-EISSIF Inc. known as Benguet Beekeping Project in 1997.
The four-year project wants to improve economic conditions of farmers in Benguet. It became operational in 1997 which seeks to increase the number of beekeepers in the province and improve quantity and quality of honey production through improved breeding and harvesting techniques.
In 2010, the NGO has partnered with the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) in the region for the promotion of the beekeeping industry.
For Benavidez, it was the fascination with bees resulted to the passion and commitment in the industry. “Beekeeping is unique in itself, it has unique place, helps in the balance of ecology and at the same time it promotes sustainable agriculture via pollination,” Benavidez added.
In order to address challenge on pesticide application, Benavidez said they are taking advantage of training with ATI where there is a direct encounter to remind of repercussions of pesticides with the trainees.
“Every time we have training with ATI, we are always reminding them, as we present lecture on the benefits of pollination on the crops.”
Salupen meanwhile added farmers can inform beekeepers before they spray insecticide ahead of time to cover the areas where the bees are coming out for foraging.
In terms of production, the country is lagging behind as compared to Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam and Thailand.
“We don’t even produce our requirement, 1/3 of the requirement is only produced the rest is imported,” Benavidez shared.
He said the fake honey being sold in the market is proliferating due to the less supply and the lack of promotion of local beekeepers who are providing pure honey.
Benguet remains as an attractive location to the beekeeping industry with its climate and wild sunflowers which serve as a forage for bees.
“The opportunity is there with Benguet, an attractive area in the beekeeping industry,” added Benavidez.
Honey could be used as natural sweetener, in bakery, candies, shampoo and other by-products utilizing honey.
Other products from bees include pollen, beeswax, royal jelly, and propolis.
“Right now it’s challenging but I think with the advent of the people interested in healthier food not only organic food, vegetables, but using honey instead of sugar, in the future many would keep bees for this particular purpose,” Benavidez added.