TALK ABOUT BEEKEEPING IN MALAYSIA

TALK ABOUT the history of Malaysian Beekeeping, in order to guide current developments in beekeeping. It is also was intended to sustain and promote the local beekeeping industry. Beekeeping in Malaysia has been practiced and first found documented since the Sultanate of Malacca. Today, both traditional and modern approaches to beekeeping are used locally. Beekeeping is crucial to the conservation and sustainability of the ecosystem. It offers natural pollination, future food security, high income generation, medicinal products, and research opportunities. However, bee domestication, problems with queen rearing, low honey production, inconsistency in quality and the high price of honey, dumping of adulterated honey on the local market, the lack of a Malaysian honey standard, and no existing body or centre to monitor beekeeping development have become a major challenge. The issues could address which the better establishment of a Majlis Lebah Negara and a one-stop centre, to guide, monitor and develop Malaysian beekeeping to an exceptional level, for the benefit of all. In Malaysia Bee Keeping activity include for Apis cerana (Lebah Keran), Apis mellifera (Lebah Import) also collection of wild bee such as Apis dorsata (Lebah Tualang). But in recent 7 -10 years ago more farmers are doing with Kelulut (Stingless Bee) as more profitable activity such as Trigona itama, Trigona thoracica dan 7 other minor species. This article in blog "Anim Agriculture Technology" I write about some facts about beekeeping in Malaysia recently.

According to Bernama which 'Bee populations declining due to pesticides, says activist group' should be discussed. The issue of the use of pesticides on crops, synthetic fertilisers also genetically modified crops, and climate change are among the main reasons for the declining bee population in the country. Reported that it is currently very difficult to find beehives in the peninsula, and many traditional beekeepers themselves admit that bee colonies are also decreasing, according to activist group known as Consumers Association Penang (CAP). Its senior education officer N.V. Subbarow said the use of pesticides on crops, synthetic fertilisers, genetically modified crops, and climate change are among the main reasons for the declining bee population in the country. he claimed that their (bees) importance cannot be overlooked as bees are responsible for 80 per cent of the world's food supply. About 70 out of the top 100 crops that humans consume in which supply up to 90 per cent of the world's nutrition are pollinated by bees. Reported that the widespread use of pesticides threatens bees, causing their numbers to dwindle. Additionally some unplanned land development also impacts the habitat of these pollinators as he told Bernama in conjunction with World Bee Day recently. CAP suggested to the community to set up more organic farms because it tends to support higher biological diversity and better bee health thus preventing the extinction of bees. The community could also plant some of their own food crops without using pesticides and synthetic fertilisers as the cultivation of flowering vegetables, fruits, and herbs could attract bees. In an effort to raise awareness about the importance of saving bees, the association has also conducted outreach sessions in several selected schools. Thanks.

By,

M Anem,

Senior Agronomist

Putrajaya,

Malaysia.

(August 2024).