Bee flora resources and honey production calendar of Gera Forest in Ethiopia

Abstract

Abstract. Bareke T, Addi A. 2019. Bee flora resources and honey production calendar of Gera Forest in Ethiopia. Asian J For 3: 69-74. Gera forest contains substantial coverage of natural forest and known as a Key Biodiversity Hotspot area for Coffea arabica conservation and one of the potential areas for beekeeping. The study was carried out to assess the bee flora and flowering calendar to harvest more honey following the flowering plant cycle. Semi-structured questionnaires, participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) techniques, and field observation were used for data collection. Honey samples collection was also made to identify the botanical origin of honey through honey pollen analysis. Seventy-four bee plant species were identified, which belongs to 41 families. Among the identified plant families, Asteraceae (29.3%), Lamiaceae (14.6%), Acanthaceae (12.2%), and Fabaceae (9.8%) are the most frequent families, represented by the highest species composition in the area. Four major honey harvesting durations were identified (January, March, April, and early June for Vernonia, Coffee, Schefflera, and Croton honey respectively) using the flowering calendar in Gera Forest. The pollen analysis of honey revealed that four types of monofloral honeys were identified comprising Schefflera abyssinica, Vernonia amygdalina, C. arabica and Croton macrostachyus in Gera forest. This is due to their abundance and potentiality for honey production. Therefore, the beekeepers should follow the flowering calendar of the plant to exploit the potential of the forest for honey production. Furthermore, market promotion for monofloral honeys of the Gera forest should be made as an incentive for the beekeepers to sell honey with premium prices and branding and labeling of honey of the area

Botanical origin and characterization of monofloral honeys in Southwestern forest of Ethiopia

“…Honeybees ( Apis mellifera L.) obtain nectar and pollen from flowering plants (Bareke & Addi, 2019a ). The availability of bee flora is the most important factor that can influence the activities of honeybees and their production (Keasar & Shmida, 2009 ).…”

Physico-chemical and microbiological characteristics of honey produced by stingless bees(Meliponula beccarii)from the Oromia Region, Ethiopia

“…In addition, Schefflera abyssinica was a secondary pollen source (41.38 %) in the Gera district of Jimma Zones and Didu (42.38%) district of I/A/Bora. Schefflera abyssinica is an abundant bee forage plant in moist highlands of southwestern and southeastern parts of Ethiopia and it provides monofloral honey in these areas[29]. Degaga[30] also reported that Schefflera abyssinica is a major monofloral honey source tree in Gera District, Jimma Zone.…”

Identification and characterization of honeybee flora calendar in Southwest Jimma Zone, Ethiopia

“…The area has high humidity and is rich in fauna and flora biodiversity. Three study districts (Goma, Gera, and Shebe Sombo) were selected based on ecosystem differences and beekeeping potential (Bareke and Addi 2019).…”