VETERAN BEEKEEPER IMPROVES HIVE CONSTRUCTION IN HAITI

Beekeeping in Haiti is a growing but still underutilized industry in Haiti. Beyond the immediate benefit of pollinating agricultural fields, beekeeping creates a cottage industry where beekeepers can sell honey and secondary bee products like candles and waxes adding much needed income. In a collaborative effort to increase the hive technology used by beekeeping associations across Haiti, FAVACA and Partners of the Americas identified hive construction material manufacturing as two areas that could greatly strengthen the capacity of local beekeepers.

Makouti Agro Enterprise, Southern Apiculture Society, Komin Akien Apiculture Association (AAKA), and the Pilate Beekeepers Cooperative were just a few of a variety of beekeeping organizations from the Northern and Southern Departments of Haiti that veteran FAVACA volunteer Sofie Geckler worked from May 23- June 6, 2010. Geckler taught the construction of Kenya Top Bar hives, which is less expensive to construct and easier to maintain than the Langstroth hives commonly found in the United States. Working closely with local carpenters to construct approximately eight hives Geckler was able to provide templates to ensure each wood piece is cut correctly. Beekeeping equipment in Haiti is only found in select areas of the country and is rather expensive, yet also very necessary to maintain healthy hives. Protective gloves and veils are especially important and the latter is in short supply in Haiti, so beekeepers and tailors were taught how to make gloves and veils with locally found materials. Thanks to Geckler's volunteer service, at least 40 beekeepers, carpenters, and tailors can construct Kenya Top Bar hives or protective veils.