Habeebat Bamidele, a graduate in Agriculture from the University of Ilorin, stands as the visionary founder of Bambee Farms, situated in Kwara State, Nigeria. Her foray into bee farming reflects not only a passion for agriculture but also a keen understanding of the untapped potential within the beekeeping industry.
When asked about her venture into bee farming, Habeebat emphasizes the unique allure of this industry, citing its immense potential yet to be fully explored. In Nigeria, creating an environment conducive to bee colonies involves strategic baiting techniques since bees do not naturally gravitate towards such habitats. Habeebat shares her journey of starting bee farming by using bait such as bee wax, honey, or lemon grass to attract bees into the hive. This process can take anywhere from 24 hours to a month for the bees to colonize the hive effectively.
The timeline for bees to start producing honey varies based on environmental factors such as the availability of food and water. Habeebat’s experience in bee farming has exposed her to numerous bee stings, highlighting the inevitable risks associated with working closely with these industrious insects. She explains that once a bee stings, it sacrifices its life as the venom release leads to its demise.
Delving deeper into the intricacies of bee colonies, Habeebat describes the three essential roles within a hive: the worker bees, drones, and queen. The worker bees form the backbone of the colony, tirelessly contributing to tasks like foraging and hive maintenance. Drones, responsible for mating with the queen, meet their end after this crucial role. The queen, pivotal to the hive’s survival, lays up to 1500 eggs daily but relies entirely on the workers for sustenance.
A fascinating aspect of bee colonies is the hierarchical structure that allows only one queen per hive. Habeebat humorously notes that in the bee world, there can only be one ruling queen—a testament to the innate order within these buzzing communities. Bees showcase remarkable mobility, traveling up to 4 kilometers in search of resources and sustenance.
BambeeFarms’ journey embodies a blend of agricultural expertise and ecological stewardship, shedding light on the vital role of bees in our ecosystem and the untapped potential of bee farming as a sustainable agricultural practice.
