20 May - World Bee Day | Knysna-Plett Herald

GARDEN ROUTE | KAROO NEWS - Bee people are a special breed of humans used to do things mostly on their own. They are the pollinators of a country's food supply, working quietly behind the stage, in a landscape riddled with challenges.

Today, 20 May, World Bee Day is celebrated around the globe, paying tribute to the role of the honey bee and its importance in the ecosystem.

Honeybee researcher of the Agricultural Research Council Mike Allsopp says there are no unique challenges in the Southern Cape and that the critical issues facing beekeeping in South Africa are pretty much the same across the country.

Forage
Allsopp names the loss of forage as the biggest challenge facing beekeepers in South Africa. "There simply is not enough forage available to sustain the numbers of colonies that we need to pollinate all the crop plants that need commercial pollination. The eucalyptus removal, including removals by Working for Water, has been part of this loss of forage, but it is only part of a much bigger story."

Allsopp says South Africa has to protect, and create, forage for pollinators if it wants to maintain a sustainable pollinator population and diversity, including commercial honey bees.

Kobus Vos, a commercial beekeeper from George, says the number of hives needed for pollination increases every year, while the forage available is steadily decreasing. "The cutting down of eucalyptus trees is a huge problem. Bees also need grazing when they return from the orchards. Our biggest challenge is especially in the summer months," he says.

A colony belonging to Clay Whittal near Great Brak River.

According to Hennie Oberholzer of the South African Bee Union, all eucalyptus trees are being chopped down, although less than 10% of the more than 80 species are prohibited by government.

George Director of Community Services Allen Paulse maintains many eucalyptus trees are invasive trees and need to be removed by landowners.

"Especially when the trees are close to streams, they absorb a lot of water," says Paulse. "We had large eucalyptus trees removed because our vision for George is a green town that is free of invasive plants where indigenous trees can rather be planted because they are adapted to the area."

A super frame ready for extraction.

Vandalism
Vandalism is another major issue beekeepers have to deal with. Clay Whittal, a registered beekeeper from George, says hives get vandalised by baboons, honey badgers and people.

"Everyone thinks people are after the honey, but they want the young bee in the comb. They pull the comb out of the frame and leave it in water for five days, as a curry. It ferments, because the honey is a sucrose, and forms a potent drink."

Whittal has been using his colonies to pollinate orchards throughout the district since 1981. His interest began at a very young age when he helped his dad extract honey on family farms in the Eastern Free State.

At present he is pollinating orchards from Heidelberg to Plettenberg Bay.

According to Whittal, Covid-19 had no impact on his beekeeping, since each of the farmers gave him a permit to move around. Vos says most commercial bee farmers could obtain the necessary permits to continue with their work during hard lockdown.

In the company of bees: hives neatly tucked away in the vicinity of Herold's Bay.

Pesticides
Although pesticides are a problem for beekeepers, they are essential in agriculture, says Vos.

"When pesticides are used unwisely it does kill bees, but the younger-generation farmers are much more aware of bees and their environment and pay close attention to protecting them. Their farming practices are so adapted that they take bees into account," he says.

According to Allsopp, pesticides and poisoning are significant issues for beekeepers in South Africa, but probably not as big a problem as the loss of forage or the impact of theft and vandalism on the industry.

"The biggest issue with regard to pesticides is the lack of viable systems in South Africa to properly assess agricultural products before they are registered for use, and the lack of policing or consequences for poisoning incidents or infringements."

Up close and personal.

The Southern Cape Bee Industry Association is hosting an informative American Foul Brood workshop on 5 June at the Gourikwa Nature Reserve. All beekeepers (hobbyists and commercial) are welcome to attend. Mike Allsopp is the guest speaker at the event. For more information, contact Kobus Vos on 082 904 2337.