Mountain Apiculture and Environmental Dynamics: Impact of Climate Variability on Bee Farming in OKU, CAMEROON.

Ignatius Ngala KIMING; Eric Kongnso MOYE; Jude KWEI

doi:10.38142/ijesss.v1i3.33

Authors

Ignatius Ngala KIMING Department of Geography, University of Yaoundé, Cameroon
Eric Kongnso MOYE Department of Geography, University of Dschang, Cameroon
Jude KWEI Department of Geography, University of Bamenda, Cameroon

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.38142/ijesss.v1i3.33

Abstract

This study aims at analyzing the effects of climate variability on bee farming in Mount Oku. The guiding premise is that climate variability has brought about environmental changes causing a fall in the quantity and quality of honey. A mixed research approach was adopted in collecting data. Questionnaires were administered to 90 purposively selected bee farmers and interviews conducted with key actors in honey production. SPSS, version 20.0 was used to analyze data while the cumulative difference index helped establish climatic anomalies and trends. Findings revealed falling rainfall trends with marked seasonal variations. Temperatures show a rising trend with little but sensitive anomalies. This has affected periods of flowering for bee plants as acknowledged by 97% of bee farmers. Hive colonization rate has been decreasing (74% - 55%), with an increasing rate of abscond (34% -46%), resulting in a reduction in honey yields. Climate variability has increased the magnitude of other environmental stressors such as bush fires and forest degradation, while reducing the growing period of some bee plants. The coping strategies put in place by bee farmers are limited and policies need to address this situation so as to maintain the quality of OKU honey.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Ajake, S. (1984): The Golden Insect: a handbook on beekeeping for beginners, 2nd edition, Ghana.104p

APICAM (1997): Beekeeping in Cameroon: Bp 14814 Yaoundé. 29p.

Baimenda, E. (2010): Socio-Economic Analysis of Beekeeping in Oku Sub Division, North West Region of Cameroon. Memoir of Diploma of Agricultural Engineer, University of Dschang.57p

Balkati, C.K. (2010): Landscape Degradation Around Mount Oku, Masters Dissertation University of Yaounde I.

Blom, J. (2001): Rat Trapping in the Kilum Forest: International Agricultural Colleges, LARENSTEIN

CTA, (2007): How to keep Bees and Process Honey: Practical guide seriesNo13, p1-6.

David, P. (1998): Peoples Farming Workbook: Cape Town, David Philip publishers.

Enchaw, G.B. (2009): An Assessment of Conservation Strategies in the Management of Natural Resources in Kilum-Ijim Forest Project Area (NWR), Ph.D Thesis, University of Yaounde I.

FAO, (1986): Tropical and Subtropical Apiculture, FAO Agric service Bulletin no 68, 283. Retrieved from www.ibra.org.uk

Fon, J.N. (2007): Market Access for Cameroon honey. Retrieved from www.geocitic.com/whinconet

Hawkins and Brunt. (1965): Soils and ecology of the West Cameroon. FAO Report No.2083.Rome.

Holmes. W. (2002): The influence of weather on annual yields of honey, Journal of Agricultural Science, vol.139, no 1. accessed at https://www.hindawi.com/journals

IBRA. (2009): Beekeeping in Rural areas. Accessed at, http://www.tcol.co.uk/comorg/ibra.htm

IPCC (2007): Climate variability and change, The Third Assessment report, Cambridge University

Press,Cambridge.

Lukong. P.N. (2009): Oku Honey Valorised. Accessed at http://www.allafrica.com/stories/2008

Macleod, H. L. (1986): The conservation of Oku mountain forest. Cameroon. ICBP. Cambridge, 90P

McSweeney, C, M. and G. Lizcano (2008) UNDP climate change country profiles: Cameroon. UNDP and the University of Oxford.

Mkong, P.Y. (2006): Jikijem Village Study Report FASA – University of Dschang. 106p

Mkong, P.Y. (2007): Agricultural Exploitation Study Report: University of Dschang (FASA) 51p

Mkong, P.Y. (2010): Inventory, Identification, Characterization and exploitation of Bee plants of Mount Oku, for protection and enrichment planting: Diploma of Conception Engineer of Water, Forest and Wildlife. FASA, 74p

Navagas, M. (2008): climate change impact on bee population and diseases. Scientific and Technical review,127p.

Ndenecho, E. N. (2005): Biological Resource Exploitation in Cameroon: From Crisis to sustainable Management : Bamenda, Unique printers,181p.

Ndenecho, E N. (2005): Savannization of the Tropical Montane cloud Forest in the Bamenda highlands, Cameroon: Journal of the Cameroon Academy of Science, Vol 5. N0 1 p 61-76

Ngakfumbe S.N., (2000): “Rainfall variability over Cameroon, A study of the characteristics of rainfall variability in a tropical environment”, The Geographer (Cameroon), July 2000, Vol. 1, pp20-24.

Nkwaimbi, W.T. (1996): Evolution of Agricultural Zones on Mount Oku, Maitrise Memoir University of Yaoundé I, 120P.

Paterson, P. (2006): The Tropical Agriculturalist: Beekeeping, Cardiff, Macmillan publishers Limited.181p

Segeren, P. (2004): Beekeeping in the Tropics: Agromis Foundation, Wageningen, the Netherlands.

Tsalefac, M. (1999) : Variabilité climatique crise économique et dynamisme des milieux agraires sur les Hautes Terres de l’ouest Cameroun : These de Doctorat. Geographie physique. Universite de Yaoundé I.

Tobouah, G.N. 2015, Agro forestry Practices in Oku Sub-Division: An Impetus to Food Supply and Rural Landscape Transformation. Masters Dissertation, University of Yaounde, 150P.

Tobouah, G.N. (2019) Productivity Challenge of Soils Along the Slopes of Mount Oku in Cameroon. Fluid Mechanics. Vol. 5, No. 1, 2019, pp. 1-7. doi:10.11648/j.fm.20190501.11

Yengo G.T (1998): Wood carving in Oku: An Economic Activity in Expansion, Dissertation ENS, University of Yaoundé 1.

Yengo, G.T. (2003): The Impact of Population Growth on the Natural Environment of Oku. DEA thesis Department of Geography, University of Yaoundé I.