—•Si.
Original Article
57
A review of beekeeping in Arab
countries
TABLE 1. Beekeeping research in Arab Countries.
Country*
MOUSTAFA H HUSSEIN
Recent status of beekeeping, races of honey bees, bee forage
plants, honey production, pests and diseases of honey bee colonies
in: Algeria, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon,
Libya, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria,
Tunisia and Yemen are described in this article. The history of
beekeeping and research activities in: Algeria, Egypt, United Arab
Emirates, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia,
Somalia, Sudan and Tunisia are also included.
Research
In the Bibliography of tropical apiculture, Eva
Crane21 reported that the area of North
Africa and the Middle East contained the
cradle of the craft of beekeeping. Pictorial
records of beekeeping activities in Egypt
exist from 2400 BC onwards. Bees have
been studied in Egyptian Universities to a
much greater extent than elsewhere in the
region. Details of results of this work are
summarized in table 1. Research work carried out in African-Arab (AfA) countries
was 15 times more than in Asian-Arab
(AsA) countries.
Beekeeping
Information about beekeeping in AfA countries and AsA countries is summarized in
tables 2 and 3, respectively. The area of AfA
countries is 2.3 times greater than AsA
countries. In AfA countries, the maximum
number of colonies per km is found in
Egypt and Tunisia. The greatest number of
beekeepers and maximum honey production are found in Egypt.
Distribution of parasites, predators and diseases in Arab countries is summarized in
table 4.
Quantity and value of exports of natural
honey from Arab countries are summarized
in table 5.
Beekeeping in Algeria
Beekeeping in Algeria is practised mainly in
the north of the country, where the floral
diversity is ensured almost all the year".
Southern Algeria is the homeland of the
date palm, with over one million productive
trees. The honey bees need to be adapted
to the desert climate and to be resistant to
unfavourable environmental conditions such
as high temperatures and strong prevailing
winds.
Hives which are best suited or adapted to
the desert conditions must be used. Traditional hives made from rocks and mud are
Pioneers in the field of
beekeeping
African Countries:
Algeria
17
Doumas
(1903)
Egypt
143
Abushady
(1949)
Libya
6
Brittan
(1955/56)
Haccour
(1939)
Morocco
The total number of honey bee colonies in
Arab countries is approximately 42 million,
the total number of beekeepers is 321 700,
and total honey production 25 738 tonnes,
with an average of 6.1 kg honey/colony.
Number
First
of
beekeeping
published publication
entries
27
Somalia
1
Sudan
9
Tunisia
17
Total
Leuthold
(1973)
King
(1920)
Chenevard
(1929)
Doumas, Alber, Andreu, Griessinger,
Idir, Jenn, Perrot, Persohn, Trieu,
Skender.
Abushady, Armbruster, Mellor, Wafa,
Rhashad, Hassanein, Ibrahim,
EI-Banby, Mazeed, Abou EI-Naga,
Abdellatif, El-Berry, Selim, Hussein.
Brittan, EI-Banby, Mazeed.
Haccour, Aloyol, Barbier, Crane,
Chapot, Faress, Garnet, Mathis,
Meyers, Ruttner, Stocken,
Vulgarisateur. . . etc.
Leuthold.
King, Marshall, Paterson, Kambel,
Titherington, Rashad, El-Sarrag.
Chenevard, Mathis, Osman,
Schneider, Phinney, Petersen, Popa,
Bornex, Leuba, Bouderballa,
Bretscko.
220
Asian Countries:
United Arab
Emirates (UAE)
Iraq
1
Lebanon
3
Oman
1
Saudi Arabia
1
Total
9
Kwei & Esmonde EI-Badawy, Kwei & Esmonde
(1978)
Jasim
Jasim, Abdellatif, Morgenthaler,
(1952)
EI-Mosa, EI-Rabae, Nemee, Jiracek.
Yazbeck
Yazbeck, Ledent.
(1953)
Dutton & Free
Dutton, Ibrahim, Free, Hussein,
(1979)
Whitcombe, Manley.
Standardization
AI-Ghamdi, Abou EI-Naga, EI-Hefny,
of honey (1978)
El-Sarrag.
15
General total 235
•No information ibout beekeeping from Bahrain. Jordan, Kuwait. Mauritania, Qatar and. Yemen (Crane 1 978).
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59
TABLE2. Beekeeping in African Arab Countries.
Area (1000 km'
Somalia
Sudan
Tunisia
Egypt
Libya
2382
1001
1760
447
638
2506
164
AmlArcvc
Ami Amsa
AmlaAmc
AmcAmsuAf
AmcAmi
few"
(1986)
SO2
(1994)
47"
(1996)
1796
Ami
Bees*
Morocco
Algeria
AmlaAmc
Total
»
(mean)
8898
Number of modern hives (1000s)
(date)
\^*
/
5008<
(1997)
11192
(1994)
50"
(1996)
302
(1994)
Number of traditional hives (1000s)
(date)
100"
(1997)
1242
(1994)
-
3702
(1994)
10022
(1986)
2502
(1994)
138"
(1996)
1082
Number of colonies per km2
0.25
1.24
0.03
0.89
0.16
0.12
1.13
(0.32)
1955"
1880'
1955"
1960"
1970"
1978"
1957"
Number of beekeepers (1 OOOs)
(date)
7031
(1996)
no2
(1994)
332
(1996)
272
(1994)
3"
(1995)
SO2
(1994)
10"
(1995)
273
Number of colonies per beekeeper
8.57,
11.3
16.7
14.8
33.3
6
18.5
(10.54)
7.33
102
11
3.5
62
7.833
(6.40)
44002
(1994)
350"
(1995)
18002
(1994)
144533
(1996)
18407
Date of introduction of modern beekeeping
»„
Average annual honey yield (kg) per hive
1.332
Total honey production (tonnes)
(date)
8003'
(1994)
91122
(1994)
50032
(1996)
Honey (g)/person/year
37
158
103
169
59
73
192
(124)
4853
(1994)"
26074
(1994)"
5923
(1994)"
24500
(1994)"
7542
(1994)"
148220
Population (1000s)
(date)
\
21172
(1994)"
57556
(1994)"
Amsu, A m. sudonensis;
* Ami, Apis meffifero intermissio; Amla, A m. tomorckii; Amc, A .m. canica; Amsa, A m. sahariensis; Ami, A m. Kgustica
known from ancient times in Algerian
deserts". The history of beekeeping from
ancient times in Algeria, and the development of the horizontal hives in general use
have been described. A sectional hive suitable for Algeria and experience with this
type of hive from 1947-1950 have been
described3'. Native bees and hives in Algeria, have also been described .
Modern Algerian hives are of the Langstroth
type with some modifications for the hot
weather, and a good honey yield is obtained
from these hives. Co-operatives are working hard in beekeeping. Research activities
are conducted at the Institute of Small Animals".
Citrus, sunflower and many wild plants provide nectar for bees. The main honey flow
is during spring (February to May), however, it is possible to obtain honey all year
round. Honey is priced at 300 Algerian
Dinar/kg, and there is a good demand for
honey. A beekeeper with 200 colonies can
make a good living from the bees. Isolated
oases in the Algerian deserts are used for
rearing of pure strains of bees.
Beekeeping in Egypt
Ancient Egyptians first kept bees in mud
hives (fixed-combs) more than 5000 years
ago with the Egyptian honey bee, Apis melKfera corn/co. Migratory beekeeping was
Amsy, A m. syrioco; Amy, A m. yemenitica; Af, A florta; Ac, A cerana indica
practised" also. Honey was the food of the
r%i_
. . _ i _ _
Pharaohs and nobles. Honey is mentioned
many times in the known Pharaonic papyri
in prescriptions used for treating human diseases, such as eye diseases, treating wounds
and ulcers, and diseases of the limbs".
Egypt is one of the countries with legislation
and a honey quality standard or codex for
honey to be sold2'.
Egyptian mud hives are placed in piles numbering hundreds, and are plastered together by pouring mortar between. 70% of
modern hives and 40% of traditional hives
are found in the Delta region, from which
about 60% of the total honey is produced,
while 40% of the honey comes from Upper
EgyptC____«.
The Coptic Organization for Social Services
has distributed thousands of hives to ElMinia and Assiut Governorates, in order to
' increase the income of village farmers living
at subsistence level".
Two main honey flows occur in Egypt during June (clover) and between August and
September (cotton), and a minor flow in
April (citrus). The main problems facing
beekeepers in Egypt are high densities of
colonies in an area, the quality of queens,
the number of pests and diseases, and cases
of poisoning with pesticides Expansion of
beekeeping into new reclaimed lands, iso-