PGR News from the Pacific

Posted 8:13 PM by Tevita

Asian bee a threat to Solomon Islands commercial honey

27 APRIL 2009 HONIARA (Pacnews) ---- Following discovery of the lethal Asian bees in 2003, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) has immediately embarked on suppressing the bees before they would spread and cause disruption to Solomon Islands’ commercial honey, reports Island Sun newspaper.

“Research is continuing as to how best to contain the spreading of Asian bees,” Solomon Islands Permanent Secretary (PS) of Agriculture and Livestock, Henry Pika, revealed last week.

Mr Pika said at the moment farmers, particularly on the Guadalcanal plains, are banned from producing honey due to initial discovery of Asian bees at Tenaru.

“We fear Guadalcanal farmers might help to spread Asian bees to other places since the bees were initially discovered at Tenaru in 2003,” Mr. Pika said. Based on this understanding, Ministry has temporarily halted production of honey from Guadalcanal plains farmers, Mr Pika confirmed.

Mr Pika said there are installments of equipments at sites said to be affected and agriculture officers are monitoring how to contain the spread of it and possibly, a total suppression of it.

“Overseas agencies are assisting in terms of provision of specialized equipments to combat the Asian bee,” Mr Pika affirmed.

Mr. Pika said Asian bees are highly mobile, therefore, it is important that farmers and the ministry must work together to devise a proper means of stopping them from spreading.

“The best we can do is suppressed it,” Mr Pika reiterated.

Mr. Pika urged farmers to work closely with the ministry in a concerted effort to suppress Asian bees.

Asian bees carry a parasite called “Varon Jacobsoni” that can destroy larva of the commercial honey bee. The destruction of larva can cause negative impact on the overall production of honey.

Meanwhile, Mr.Pika also reaffirmed that eradication of giant African snail is still on.

Mr. Pika said Ranandi where giant African snail was initially found is showing signs of reduction of it. ….PNS (ENDS)



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DIVA-GIS	Sunday, April 26, 2009 Posted 8:13 PM by Tevita Asian bee a threat to Solomon Islands commercial honey 27 APRIL 2009 HONIARA (Pacnews) ---- Following discovery of the lethal Asian bees in 2003, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) has immediately embarked on suppressing the bees before they would spread and cause disruption to Solomon Islands’ commercial honey, reports Island Sun newspaper. “Research is continuing as to how best to contain the spreading of Asian bees,” Solomon Islands Permanent Secretary (PS) of Agriculture and Livestock, Henry Pika, revealed last week. Mr Pika said at the moment farmers, particularly on the Guadalcanal plains, are banned from producing honey due to initial discovery of Asian bees at Tenaru. “We fear Guadalcanal farmers might help to spread Asian bees to other places since the bees were initially discovered at Tenaru in 2003,” Mr. Pika said. Based on this understanding, Ministry has temporarily halted production of honey from Guadalcanal plains farmers, Mr Pika confirmed. Mr Pika said there are installments of equipments at sites said to be affected and agriculture officers are monitoring how to contain the spread of it and possibly, a total suppression of it. “Overseas agencies are assisting in terms of provision of specialized equipments to combat the Asian bee,” Mr Pika affirmed. Mr. Pika said Asian bees are highly mobile, therefore, it is important that farmers and the ministry must work together to devise a proper means of stopping them from spreading. “The best we can do is suppressed it,” Mr Pika reiterated. Mr. Pika urged farmers to work closely with the ministry in a concerted effort to suppress Asian bees. Asian bees carry a parasite called “Varon Jacobsoni” that can destroy larva of the commercial honey bee. The destruction of larva can cause negative impact on the overall production of honey. Meanwhile, Mr.Pika also reaffirmed that eradication of giant African snail is still on. Mr. Pika said Ranandi where giant African snail was initially found is showing signs of reduction of it. ….PNS (ENDS) * Comments: Post a Comment	Archive October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 January 2010 RSS Feed Alternative feed Contact Tevita Something new: Agrobiodiversity Weblog: For discussions of conservation and sustainable use of the genetic resources of crops, livestock and their wild relatives. 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