Beekeeping is a lucrative business that can make you rich if you are committed to it. It is the process of raising bees for honey and other products like propolis, beeswax, pollen propolis and royal jelly. Also called apiculture, the business is often referred to as a goldmine. With an increasing demand for honey in Nigeria and the world at large, beekeeping is a promising business to invest in. Also, the practise of beekeeping has no negative impact on the environment, requires very little investment and produces quick returns. Below are the basic tools that you need to run a successful bee farm; – Beehive Bees live in the hive, and it must be constructed to provide weather protection. Also, determining the type of hive to use is very important in bee farming. A beehive is a simple box with a lid that keeps rain out. Beehive also comes in different sizes based on cost and purpose. The beehive should be sited where there are many flowering plants and trees, close to food and water sources, and far from crops sprayed with pesticides. It should also be protected from strong winds and away from sunlight. – Frames Frames are rectangular-shaped structures that hang inside the hive where bees build their comb, make honey, lay brood, and live. Frames can be wooden or plastic, depending on the design. – Hive stand Hive stand supports the beehive off the ground to keep its bottom dry. It also helps to insulate the beehive. In practice, beehives should not sit directly on the ground to prevent moisture from getting into it. – Smoker Smoker is one of the most valuable tools in beekeeping because it is used to calm bees and reduce stinging. Grass and pine straw, among others, make good smoker fuel. – Essential Oils Essential oils are used to attract bees to the swarm boxes, they are also used for homemade honeybee food fed to bees as supplements for forage base diet. Furthermore, essential oils offer a chemical-free, natural way of protecting bees from pest infestations while keeping them healthy. – Bee Suit Beekeepers need special clothing to protect them from bee stings when at work. A bee suit is a safety wear or garment used for covering the body while in the bee farm. – Bee Veil
It is important to always wear a veil when visiting the bee farm to shield your ears, mouth and nose from stings. Bee veil can be worn over the hat and tucked under the coat/suit or drawn over a light metal frame which covers the head and rests on the shoulders. – Bee Gloves Thick long gloves are needed to protect the hands while at work in the bee farm. – Feeders Feeders are used to hold sugar syrup fed to bees when energy demands are high and natural nectar is not available. Feeders can be an entrance feeder or top feeder depending on the bee farm design. – Hive Tool This tool is used in handling bees, removing the hive cover and frames, cleaning off burr comb and propolis etc. Specifically, a hive tool is a handheld multipurpose tool used in maintaining and inspecting beehives. – Bee Brush It is used to gently remove bees from undesired areas. – Harvesting Honey Honey is harvested at the end of the flowering season by picking combs that contain ripe honey with an envelope of thin layer of white beeswax. However, as the mature honey is being harvested, the combs containing pollen or developing bees must be left. Combs with broods should not be harvested. For a fresh colony of bees, it is advisable to leave for ten to twelve months for the honey to mature before harvesting. Meanwhile, before engaging in beekeeping, it is advised that you acquire basic knowledge on bee farming through training and consultation. Note that honey can start to ferment during storage if the water content is more than 19%.
