Bees and Pollination
30 years of Journey of our search for ‘nesting site’ and intent to produce as many as ‘swarms’ possible- could be the right way to call it! (KS,LFE,APPCL,NNHS etc )
It is all begun on 1st April 1994 in search of forest honey gatherers and bee farmers around 16 hill ranges, valley of river Kaveri and plains of Kanyakumari of Tamilnadu. About 185 days of search around Tamilnadu brought out immense information on the diverse ecological and multi tribal culture and indigenous traditional livelihood dependency on forest honey. The diversity in farming, communities, fragile eco-systems were noticed in Nilgiris has given us the opportunity to initiate beekeeping interventions based out Kotagiri.
In last two and half decades the amount of discussion, questions, excitements, stories, folk, music, legendary, fights, evidences and some accidents we came through is immense. It would be very difficult to put it all here I believe. Even today the search is still on with the community and landscape because the nature of the people individualism is very high. The growing need to survive, increased demands are making it much more complex than before days. Rearing bees as one of the casuals is very high compared to intensive income earning activity, very few become successful out of hundreds indigenous person get trained by keystone as well other agencies. Eating honey along with brood from project bee hive is a joy for them and an excitement with guest…
Over the years, we got identity nationally and internationally for beekeeping and as honey people.
Livelihood on Honey
Forest Honey and beekeeping is a window for Keystone with tribal communities in NBR. In 1995, the very first 25 newton hives were procured from khadi and village industries, Tirupur and started promoting beekeeping in three villages namely Kilcoupe, Semanarai and Vagapanai of Konavakarai slopes. The very first beekeeping training was conducted to Kilcoupe farmers in Cintra. We find numerous successful beekeepers practicing beekeeping on their own till date. Balan, Visu and Thangaraj become a successful entrepreneur today. To strengthen beekeeping activity, we used to visit all Mondays and Fridays to kilcoupe, Wednesdays to Semanarai and Thursdays to Vagapanai villages. The Semanarai apiary was started at Andy’s homestead garden and beekeeping gradually extended to the entire valley as settlements like Attadi, Kolithorai, Thalamukh, Vellaricombai, Melcoupe and Athipadigai. Chellan of Kilcoupe, Rasu of Semanarai, Kari of Thalamukh, Buntan in Anniakatti were champions of producing more than 16 kgs of honey per hive. Cinnaraman, Balan, Mari, Gopal and Kapai-Krishana become lead beekeepers; have extracted more than 12 kgs per colony. Suresh Chengappa the largest honey producer has visited the area and given vital inputs to reduce absconding of colonies. Ayyasamy of Kolithorai used to tell that all his children’s education fee is met through beekeeping. Later, Laxmi of Paralikadu, Thasan, Poochmarathur Selvan, Vellayn of Sittukuni, Maruthan, Kali in Kilchengalur become experts and resourceful farmers through beekeeping.
Kilcoupe village and Apiary; was established in a small forest village, to train, demonstrate and produce colonies to supply to beekeepers. There used to have newton hives, log hives, basket hives and various types of basket hive. Pratim’s parents have visited initially and interact with all women folk. The apiary building was inaugurated by Evo, Brigittas husband, later visited by Ms.Supriya sahu, Collector, Mr.Duraisamy, DFO Nilgiris North, Mr.Krishnamoorthy, PCCF, ….Andhra, Dr.Nicola of BfD. have visited and she made an effort to observe beekeeping at Semanarai too. The very first floral survey was documented for a square km around the apiary as quadrant plots basis. A plant nursery and first poly lined water storage was demonstrated, there were 11 families and all become excellent beekeepers once and Chellan and Vellai worked as local coordinators in the valley First training on organic agriculture was organised here. Spice plants like pepper, clove and areca were supplied to Bangalapadigai initially. Apiary extension was achived through Aus Aid support.
The basket hives-Mulderry hives, named after a village in Bangladesh tried initially were woven by Rangan and Natraj in Semanarai village. Later it is made in Sigur and Pillur to make cost effective for beekeeping locally. A beekeeper and an assistant, Babloo has come from Bangladesh to share his experience and train our local team here. DFID has supported to increase the number of hives in the apiary and extension with new villages in Nilgiris. M.Chandran hails from kilcoupe, has served as long-time trainer cum coordinator in beekeeping project. A live demonstration of transferring a feral colony into a hive in presence of Ulaganathan, District forest Officer, ….ACF at Annaiakatti village have opened up more windows and permissions for our projects. The only individual private EB connection is given to our Annaiakatti apiary at Allar Mari’s land and still exists. The PCCF Kalla hive distributed hives at Chokkanalli and visited Sigur office. A team of Japanese bee experts including Mukkoshita have visited Semanarai beekeepers.
Supports from numerous groups: Bees for Development has supported through Good gift funds to extend beekeeping in Pillur and Asanur. An elderly English couple Ann (glass blower) and Peter(Beekeeper) have supported with a donation have visited Sigur beekeeping and Asanur beekeeping sites. The District forest office, Sathyamangalam Forest division, Tamilnadu Forest department has supported to supply 100 hives in and around Asanur region. We have facilitated to get 200 newton hives from Tamilnadu Kadhi and Village industries board, Ooty for beekeepers of Konavakarai slopes.
DBF supported beekeeping efforts: it was one of the largest initiatives to popularise cerana beekeeping as livelihood option for indigenous communities through appropriate technology and capacity building. Traditionally, indigenous tribal communities resides in the Nilgiri biosphere reserve like Kurumba, Irula, Kattunaicken, Toda, and Sholiga practices wild cerana honey collection from natural earthen cavities and of live tree cavities in the forest. They have a seasonal system of cleaning and harvesting without destructing the nesting habitat. This knowledge is transferred to generation to generation through oral as well demonstration, which has numerous gaps in bee conservation and limitation of access to due to change is forest policies. The DBF project focused on training the community on scientific management of bees and using local material in fabrication of top-bar hives, earthen hives and application of top bars newton brood chambers. One day/Two day training on scientific management of bees for 14 weeks was conducted in Pillur and Sigur which incorporated appropriate hive making-top-bar basket hives, techniques of transferring feral colony into hive, seasonal management, colony multiplication techniques, queen rearing, establishing apiary, floral surveys and value addition of wax and honey. More than 270 tribal men and women in Sigur and 120 were trained in Pillur. Apis dorsata habitat surveys and habitat observations were done in Sigur plateau including Mudumalai wildlife sanctuary during this period. Sustainable dorsata honey collection and habitat conservation efforts were taken at this region. As part of improves agroforestry a plant nursery was established to supply melliferous plants to beekeepers subsequently.
The project is collaborated with Tamilnadu horticulture department under the National Horticulture Movement, supported training of tribal farmers and supplies of bee tools at Pollachi,Kallampalayam,Kunjapanai,Banangudui,Thalamukkh,Bangalapdiagi and Vakkanamaram. Thus has paved the way for us to get exhibitions stall at annual vegetable shows conducted at Nehru Park, Kotagiri in every May. Beekeeping trainings were conducted twice at UPASI Coonoor, TNAU,Ooty, for forest department at chitteri, Trifed supported training programme in Jawadhi, Annikatti, Pillur, Kovanur and Pollachi. We have done a beekeeping status study, prepared a perspective plan for Jawadhi hills and submitted to Tamilnadu forest department. Keystone celebrated world bee day on 20th May 2017 at Nehru Park, Kotagiri
Bears and encounters- the very first loss of colony happens on late May 1995 when Subramani, Leo and Mogens hived a colony inside the forest lower below kilcoupe. The hived colony was left in the forest on that night to settle and visited next day to shift. When they reach the site it was so awful, the tops are scattered all over, the hive was upside down and combs are missing. Leo and Mogens thought somebody has stolen the brood. But Subramani just started laughing and laughing and saying it was a bear had a feast. Once MC and Kanaka was entering apiary at 8.30am and found a bear standing erect holding two frames with her front arms and running away with it. Since then it is a never ending bear stories from across several villages. Bear stories became a coffee table discussion at Swallow’s office in Lund. Bear incidents slowly extended to Cintra and later to campus hives and once the containers and vessels at OMD too.
E A funded project supported to establish Apiaries to rear Indigenous/native bees ie. Apis cerana indica and trained exclusively 25 local tribal farmers in beekeeping techniques, colony raising, dividing and make awareness of the importance of natural bee population for crop and forest pollination services and to contribute colonies back to nature through freed swarms. Also, it focuses on networking with other farmers and various public and private agencies to make them aware of the importance bees and bring them on to conserve it.
Apimondia & Keystone,
In Apimondia, Keystone was a standing committee member in Commission for rural development, Pratim, Mathew and Sneh have participated in Apimondia Brussels where a dorsata comb was a major attractant of the. It was purchased for a museum and the money was used for honey hunter’s benefit later at Kotagiri. A bronze medal was awarded for the HH of the Blue Mountain at Apimondia, Durban, South Africa. Three presentation and demonstration of cavity nest were presented at Apimondia, Dublin. Shiny, Pratim, Kunal and Leo have presented Darwin imitative activities at Apimondia Melbourne. Pratim participated in Apimondia at Mapille?,France
Why Appropriate Technology in beekeeping? Tribal communities were sustainably collecting honey from traditional tree, earthen and stone cavities season after year after year in forest for self-consumption and sold locally. It was a system where honey combs alone were collected and leaving brood behind makes the bees to continue live there. In recent decades, due to resource competition and destructive collecting act by non-tribal community has effect on bee families as well livelihood among the tribal families. Appropriate Technology in beekeeping explored to find appropriate structure which can be locally fabricated using local skill and capacity, the raw material is sourced out locally. Also how women can be engaged in rearing bees, harvesting honey and wax and value add it!. The programme builds capacity to farmers in fabrication of hives, bee colony management techniques, extraction of honey & beeswax, fabrication of bee tools and processing equipment. Kinds of hives like top-bar hives, bamboo woven hives, clay hives, altered newton hives, top-bars in newton brood were tried and demonstrated to farmers for replication on their own. Also tools like hive tool, frame holders, bee veils, queen rearing tools, observation hives, swarm catch net, bee carrying boxes, nucleus hives Honey heater, filters, storing vessels, feeding trays, kinds of hive stands, comb foundation sheets, pollen preserves, centrifugal honey extractor made of stainless steel, extractor for top-bars combs, solar wax extractor and various raw materials were tried and demonstrated. On the processing side, custom made honey filters, heater, appropriate storing equipment were fabricated and used in value addition activity. Steamed wax melter, sheet maker, wax moulds, hand press, soap wire cutters and solar driers are made too.
Justin, M.Chandran and Leo were trained at Bee Research and Development Centre, Honai , Vietnam for Apis cerana colony management and disease management.
As result based approach in late 2000, beekeeping training and supports were extended to non-tribal famers on payments and continue to support tribal farmers on contributions.
Collaborations and Network; apiculture project is constantly engaged in to various agencies to strengthen beekeeping knowledge, experiences and leanings. The partner organisation from NTFP EP network within India and South East Asia has been visiting our beekeeping sites, apiaries and processing centres to learn our experience. The bee conservation effort is strengthen at Bhima Sankar wildlife sanctuary partnering with Kalpaviriksh, Punerjit at Punajanur, Island trust at Seddikkal, Thalia Gonds and Dongoria gonds of Odisha. Under JSS scheme, farmers are constantly get trained in Kerala.
Queen rearing & colony multiplication become a crucial need in beekeeping in today’s context. Lots of people showing interest in both
AT -Water system for Kilcoupe-water supply was a long standing issue at kilcoupe, always troubled by wild animals or families of Melcoupe. A new independent supply system is built with appropriate collection and settling tank at Kolikarai river below Annaikatti junction with a help of HADP fund. The Tamilnadu forest department has enhance the system with a checkdam and a GLR at Kilcoupe.
Appropriate Vellaricombai Houses- with a financial assistance of HADP, Keystone and beneficiaries’ contribution 11 houses were built at Vellaricombai. In the beginning we have proposed to have space for wall hives but due to Bear’s movement and safety of children and women the idea was dropped and These houses were designed participatory for space utilisation as well raw material to construct. An additional door is provided to the kitchen (traditionally woman don’t use the normal living room door during her menstrual cycle. (A normal group house has one entrance)a passage from kitchen to the living room for normal utility-the partition wall is raised fully up to roof, Two large windows are provided for better lighting and ventilation.( normally it is fitted with one or a jolly).A sit out (Thinnai) 32sqft is provided with mud packing to give thermal effect and traditional cow dung polishing. A sit out essential structure for all tribal communities (this system is not included in a normal group house scheme). Iron under structure for roofing is incorporates to eliminate termites. A Smokeless Chula is provided for fuel efficiency. A platform is built over the cooking area with iron to store the grains and seeds. Roof water harvest gutters are provided- yet decide to build a storage tank due to elephant menace. The houses are electrified with multiple points-with a 25% contribution by the beneficiary toilets are constructed 20mtrs away independently from the house: it a community decisions to have it in distance from the dwelling.
The challenge: The Bee scenario: In the overall changes around the global environment, honey bees are not exceptional to undergo the vulnerable conditions. The bee population/density was badly affected to deforestation, change in cropping patterns and introduction of chemicals in farming systems, introduction of exotic honey bees and prevalence of viral disease (TSBV) and pest. The Four major honey bee species found in Indian sub-continent were affected numerous ways due to above reasons. The migratory bee species like Apis dorsata (theRock bees) Apis florae (the little bee) bee populations were fluctuant. Apis cerana (the hive bee) and Dammar bees (stingless) bees are the most vulnerable due to loss of habitats along with reasons mentioned earlier.
Honey bee brood, pollen and honey is always delicacy and source of nutrition amongst all age groups. There various ways to eat brood. it is eaten raw, fried over fire, squeezed over boiling water to get the solids. Honey is traditional ate with unripe jack, boiled/roasted tubers, puffed amaranth
Key Issues: The bee colonies are not available to the interested individuals. Those are practicing also slowly reducing in number due to non-supportive /lack of system from state and other relevant agencies. With our experience in beekeeping, we need to redesign our approach and activity which may enhance the beekeeping status.
Conservation studies: the documentation of practices, indigenous information, outputs of different hive models, habitats, bee pollination & forages
Conservation of Bee population: The focus of doing it as lively hood option can be widened in to the colony production well too. The availability of bee colony is become scares due to above mentioned reasons and other hand demand for colonies also is increasing
A bee reserve: The Toda traditional forest cavity honey collection is known as ‘Peruu’ system, which is considered as an assets and cavity ownership continues through generations. This system is under threat across Nilgiris due to raiding by non-Toda. The community in Bekkapathy mund were encouraged to safe guard traditional cavities and have created a watch dog committee, mapped all traditional cavities and fixed up public notice board. The cavities were monitored by the watch dog committee. Strengthening traditional livelihood-Honey collection through community Bee Reserve, at Bikkpathy Mund village, Udhagamandalam taluka, Nilgiri District
Pollination
Background: In Agro-forestry mountain ecology, Indigenous pollinators are important agents to up keep the diverse ecological system especially in tropical countries for food, livestock fodder and livelihood security. As we understand that the honey bees does crucial pollination services essential to enhancing agricultural yield and ensuring human food security the major pollinators for our food crops as well the natural vegetation, bees provide by-products rich in nutrition and health benefits such as honey, beeswax, pollen, which, when marketed well, can further increase household income
For the indigenous community, what is pollination? how they perceive it! Bees to flowers to pollen to honey. As they observe and perceive the bees are busy in collecting pollen on its hind legs it is stocked in the cells and dilute it to honey later. For a honey hunter, whether a specific flower is blooming or mass flowering it is an indication of brood rearing or honey is fully packed in combs and ready to harvest. In the case of Sigur region, flowering of Purusa maram indicates the brooding and flowering of Palai indicates honey harvest time! If Kattaplagai blooms in Pillur honey is ready. Coonoor hunters geared up to collect when kurunji blooms, also when Jamun flower turn out to brown and dried.
The Nilgiri Biosphere reserve (NBR) is an important habitat for four Asiatic bee species such as Apis dorsata, Apis cerana indica, Apis florea and Stingless bee spp and about 3,300species flowering plants out of which 132 are endemic to this landscape. The NBR has about a million of residents and more than a millions of tourists are visiting this landscape throughout year. According to the practioners, the bee population is reducing constantly and we are attending to the need of pollination in mountain ecosystems. Supporting beekeeping skills along with traditional farming practices that to manage habitat patchiness, crop rotation, and coproduction between science and indigenous local knowledge, safeguarding pollinators
“The FAO has estimated that honeybees contribute to nearly 75% – Percentage of the world's food crops that depend at least in part on pollination, exclusively 74 % of the world edible oil seed Over the years, many activities were undertaken for promoting and strengthening bee pollination. These include capacity building, floral mapping to document nectar and pollen sources
Keystone has been engaged with communities in various ways to make aware of pollination services we get from bee populations.
Understanding bees & pollination- the aim of social bees, solitary bees, bats, birds animals is not to facilitate pollination, but when they derive nutrition from the pollen or nectar from different flowers, it pollinates flowers without their active efforts. Honey Bees are well populated social insect, exclusively depend on pollen and honey for their food and brood rearing. While collecting honey and pollen they also pollinate flowers of food crops and forest plants. Their body covered with branched hairs, and with special ‘pollen baskets’ on their legs, honeybees are ranked as most efficient pollinators. In a bee colony 98 % of the worker bees are engaged in foraging, when a forager (nectar and pollen collecting bees) comes across food resources it returns to the colony and communicates it to the hive mates through a dance, through which every available flower species and locality is communicated and visited resulting in greater pollination achieved.
Habitat conservation & restoration for Solitary Bees -the familiar carpenter bees, mason bees, leafcutter typically produce neither honey nor beeswax but does pollination while they gather pollen and nectar including Butterflies. Bundles of reeds, clay pots, bait hives and logs with drilled holes were kept across indigenous farms as habitats. Later, we have observed some habitats were occupied by solitary spp.
1. Pollinator’s diversity study in coffee crop-cross pollination in coffee cultivation is encouraged across tropics to enhance yield and quality. Usually, coffee plants blooms three to five cycles over a time of 45 to 60 days. Five indigenous mixed coffee farms and Five coffee alone plots were identified in Arakode to document the pollinators diversity. Interestingly high yield and good quality is observed in high pollinator’s presence.
2.The pollinator’s preference study in Sigur and Pillur region
3.Effect of insect pollination in NFTP spp.-Soap berry(sapindus emaginatus)Read more……………
4.The pollinators diversity study in two different ecosystem in Meghalaya. NESFAS-North East Slow Food and Agrobiodiversity Society is securing agro-biodiversity and indigenous ecological knowledge. A survey was conducted to look at the pollinator’s diversity in two different ecosystems and share with communities and its importance. Read more…….
5.Pollinators presence in organic and inorganic agriculture practices in Nilgiri and Timbam landscapes. Read more………
6.Chandra, a Post graduate student from A.V.C college, Maiylduthurai has done a study on pollinators presence in mixed vegetable and mixed millet farming system,
Honey & Bee research;
1.CS fund and Penta Reah ; two year project supported us to understand the different habitat for bees and other pollinators in different land use like millet fields and coffee diverse cultivation systems.
2.A minor research was conducted to understand how the influence of nectar and pollen inflow determines the brood rearing.
3.Cleaning behaviour study-“Come on – scratch, scratch, recap this brood check for the life then scrub, scrub and clean,” the elder worker bee shouted orders to her younger counterparts. with a context to TSBV-(Thai Sac Brood virus) few hives were selected at Semanarai village and young brood were pierced with needles to kill pre-pulpal larva, faster the colonies cleans such cells were selected for multiplied to beekeepers.
4 Bee nesting cavity study was initiated in upper area of Nilgiris where Toda forest honey collection systems were documented. Cavity architecture, cavity volume, tree species preference, floral preference and underground nesting habits were also documented.
5.Darwin initiatives , 2006-2009 a prestigious research project, documented 5 different micro ecology in NBR regard to pollination and livelihood options. It is noted, the diverse plant species and bee as pollinators is mutually high.
6. EA supported; the number of swarms can be produced beekeepers were supported with hives and colonies to keep as many as colonies in their homestead farms for honey production and strictly encouraged to maintain two top bar hives to allow swarms ‘swarm Out Hives-not meant for honey harvest to increase local bee and feral bee population.
7. Loic Tridon a French students of ISA,Lille spent about 45 days in Sigur and Asanur to understand and suggest a suitable method of queen rearing in Apis cerana colony multiplication. Justinraj got an opportunity to train Loic and learn the methodology of a research and strengthen his beekeeping skills.
Apiaries were established on need based. The Sigur apiary is functional long time to raise colonies, train farmers, to do trials and experiments. Trainees from Kalpaviriksh, Lya, Andhrah, Thumkur, Inbasevasangam, destitute women group from ooty, Palm trust 2,PHCC, Aurovillee and various palce got trained here. Asanur, Semanarai, Gethesal apiaries were transformed into individual rearing and supports to the locals
Honey Hunting; Keystone core team experienced honey hunting with Paraman, a Playian hunter of Kadukuthadi and Raju of lower Palani hills in early 1990s and subsequently during the Honey hunters and beekeepers survey in1993. A combination mountains, forests and tribal community is always considered as source of pure honey, NBR is not exceptional to this. Honey is always an integral part of social, cultural and livelihoods for Communities like Kurumba, Irula, Toda, Kattunaicken and Sholiga have been traditionally collecting forest honey at different forest types and elevations. The indigenous communities live here have device tools, incorporate elaborate customs to collect for self-consumption and practice different way of selling it, it is an important livelihood to number of individuals and groups. The cultural value strengthens their willpower and bee species conservation practice. In vekkipadigai of Semanarai, the first honey hunting group meeting happened with Rengasamy, Kannan, Rengan, Madan and Mani. The video of Honey hunters of Nepal with translated Tamil audio is shown to them. The Maruti gypsy is the vehicle which carried a generator, television, Video tape recorder and 7 people down to Semanarai and back. This has inspired them to the idea of making film on HH is further grown during Pratim’s trip to Malaysia where he had met Nicola, David Attenborough. The Nature Conservation Trust, United Kingdom sent Nell to teach us to handle Video camera and a 5minute film was made with Rengasamy team in Swarnavalli cliff. Subsequently with association of River Bank studio the HH of Blue Mountain was shot at the largest rock bee congregation of Paadi Barai cliff in1997 & 98 which has won several awards in France and in Durban. The honey cliffs of Kotagiri and Coonoor taluks were documented including all sacred cliffs in 1996. Mallan, lingan, Raman of Kurumbadi and Kallar Mani-literally one amongst the forest collectors in Coonoor slopes have helped us to do this documentation. Sambath Kuttan, a Toda youth demonstrated us their traditional cavity collection at Dhotta betta shola in 1994. Nettlikuttan the Toda honey collector of Mullimund briefly demonstrated us how cerana honey has been collected in ‘Peiru’- Toda traditional bee cavity in Nilgiri upper area shola patches. Kurumbar named it Jenu Sirph, Irula calls it Keeikambu, Jenu Kurumba calls it asThevaai. The Toda champions, Kattreli kuttan and Kotrajan have helped us -Geetha Naik to document bee flora of upper Nilgiris. A brief documentation was done about the cavities of Deverbetta, Onyie mund and Kholei mund of Toda ancestral boundary. This was the time we learnt about migratory character of Apis cerana which is believed to be resident species. The only and legendary Irula Husband and Wife team used to hunt cliffs around Konavakarai slopes were popular in 96-97 on their extraordinary skills but his chapter came to close due to family quarrel and killed. To mark his skill, his Kopie stone is carved with honey hunting rope and a bucket. The Baviyur legend Aallappan and his team used to hunt the most difficult cliff called Thondi braai, now his son Mahendran and few youth have taken the position nowadays. The Kunna Khus of Vagapanai and his brothe Mahalaingam were another skill full hunters collects at Pei Barai and Thekke Barai
The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is native to four bee species, which are 1. Rock bee (Apis dorsata) nesting on cliff faces and tall trees, usually yields 3-to 12kgs of honey 2.Little bee (Apis florea) shrubs, bamboo thickets and branches of medium size trees yields up to 1kg. These two bee species are migratory in nature, hence it is hunted well before bees migrate the time where maximum honey is stored 3. Indian hive bee (Apis cerana), nesting in earthen cavities and tree cavities, usually yields 2-7kgs. 4. Indian Stingless / Dammar bees (Tetragonula bengalensis &Trigona iridepennis) nesting in cavities in walls, trees and bamboo nodes which yields up to 750gms. The Rock bee colony might populate over 60000-70000 individuals, Cerana 30000 to 40000 bees, and little bee 8000 to 10000, stingless bees 100 to thousand. Collecting honey from Rock bee colonies is more remunerative but definitely requires special skills and a team work. The climbing gears like bamboo ladder or fibre ladder or scaffolding are prepared by the group and revenues were share equally. The traditional ancestral domains were strictly followed amongst groups and exchange is maintained with mutual understanding. Each community evolves with their own tools and ritual while honey collection. The other species of honey bees are dealt by individuals, husband wife team and pair of women.
The forest honey gathering is always performed with care, joy, time for all funs, stories and finally economics. There used to be elaborate ceremony of getting elders blessing, playing Kokalu tribal flute to convey they begun the cliff journey and similarly a rhythm of flute to which convey to hamlet the hunt was great collection or a failure while returning back to hamlet. The young brood is brought with care and given to pregnant and feeding mothers. It is believed to be good for eye sight and stamina building. Lots of songs used to be sung at the cliff during and after honey hunt but never sung off cliff. Most of the chief/master hunters are shy and comfortable to sing at the cliff but nowhere outside. We happens to observe the collection of woody climber to make ladder, preparation of collection basket, smoker made of green leafs and dried twigs.
In dense forest, the honey hunters track bee excreta mark found on rocks near water hole/stream bed or broad leaves to find the bee nests. They observe the visitation of rock bees in waterholes to locate colonies. Similarly, early morning and late evening sun rays across mountain slope is used to locate colonies.
Sustainable and Hygienic honey collection: these two aspects are crucial for marketing of honey and species conservation for pollination services and livelihood securities. The early video document and subsequent forest visits have helped to evaluate the loss of brood un-hygienic status of forest honey which ultimately de-tore’s quality and long self-life. Hereby the training become a major attention to build capacity in sustainable honey collection process- cut and remove only the honey part of comb, collect ripen. capped honey combs, never use fire, strictly use only smoke which will not harm young brood and save queen cells at the bottom hedge of comb. The squeezed honey has turbidity, presence of bee body parts, extreme volume of pollen and residues of storing containers and cleanliness of hands. The uncapping and mid-rib cutting and gravity draining is promoted Instead of squeeze, also clean nylon filters are supplied, food grade cans & drums. Training on extraction of wax is also promoted to procure for value addition. The concept of dry room, food grade storage and immediate cash payment system to collectors were implemented. Moisture level is recorded and bench mark is fixed to stop collecting unripen honey. Higher rates were issued to honey which is cut & drained. Wild cerana collection was discouraged to promote beekeeping.
The ecological and social data collection was initiated to correlate the flower, source, quality and quantity. Through which awareness to conserve bees is generated, also convinced the collectors and safe guard few colonies not harvest and untouched. This will pave steps towards colony conservation. With participation of honey hunters this opportunity is created to generate swarms and to increase bee population.
The Forest department of Kerala have effectively incorporated our sustainable and hygienic harvest of(SHH) wild honey collection in to Vana Samrakshan Samiti and established various brand in market. The Kerala Forest Research institute has also promoted this process successfully in Wayand regions. 3 day SHH training was conducted for Mullukurumba in association with Shola trust. A senior personnel from Honey and Bee mission of Nagaland have trained on value addition of Honey & beeswax.
The NTFP-EP network partners India, Gramswaraj, Lok Panchayat, Prakuriti in Sirsi Green Desert Udaipur, have effectively trained on SHH. The forest communities in South East Asia have adapted this skill to establish NTFP based social enterprises through NTFP-EP network. SHH and value addition of honey and bees wax is value added and sold in different markets in Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines and Laos.
Madhu Duniya- taste of honey was organised in Arakku valley, India in November 2017. NTFP-EP partners from Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, Bangladesh and India shared their indigenous knowledge and techniques.
The living Legend-Mari, aged 68 of Thadasalhatti and his team are the most efficient cliff collectors of Melseemai. Mari’s father was a honey hunter passed away in 2017. Earlier, Mari goes with father, son and grandson to cliffs, line of four generation.
The ever first Bee museum in India at Ooty is demonstrating the skills associated with hunting and botanical backups.
Green shops-chain of shops in Kotagiri, Coonoor and in Ooty is also a place to demonstrates the indigenous values, honey collection and how it is prepared to market.
BBC World challenge-cliff hunting was elaborately documented with Kalithibam team in Melseemai and got the 3rd place.
The Honey untouchables- bee photographer Eric Tournet has made a film, Honey Untouchables with Mari in Melseemai.
Slow Food International given Ark of Taste status to traditional knowledge systems and honey gathering in NBR.
Tribute to traditional knowledge holders- Rengasamy, Kapai Krishana, Chandran, Cinnaraman, Andy of Semanarai, Kunnakoosu of Vagapanai. Chetty and Vellingiri of Idukkorai, Raju Johee kombai, Gurusamy of Punajnur