Mekelle Bee Research and Training center (MBRC)

General Background

The Mekelle Bee Research and Training center (MBRC) was officially launched as center in July, 2020. The center is temporary based in the compound of Tigray Agricultural Research Institute (TARI). It is located North-east of Mekelle at an elevation of 1970 meters at 250 51’N latitude and 390 61’ longitudes. MBRTC has one testing and demonstration site adjacent to its main office.  In addition, it has six demonstration sites located in different agro-ecologies of the region having good potential for beekeeping.

The center has 6 core processes.

• Beekeeping management and genetic improvement which includes colony multiplication and management for better productivity
• Honey Bee products quality improvement and value addition
• Honey bee forage and pollination ecology
• Honey bee healthy
• Apiculture research and extension socio-economic
• Support staff

Research Focus / Thematic Area

1. Honey bee biology and breeding:-To improve the trait of beekeeping production and productivity products. This focuses on beekeeping and breeding research, bee biology and reproduction, bee colony management and bee feed.
2. Honey Bee Health:-This focuses on research to identify and control the damage caused by bee diseases and pests to bees and bee products.
3. Honey Bee forage and pollination ecology:- This research activity conducts research on honey bee flora based on different location and climate characteristics/ environment to answer various questions raised by various stakeholders regarding honey bee flora.
4. Honey Bee products quality improvement and value addition:-This research practice conducts various researches on improving the quality and value addition of beekeeping products, especially focusing on post-harvest quality of honey bee products, for example, improving the handling of honey and candles, preserving honey bee products for a long time, and honey bee products from traditional hives by improving and conducting research to promote our culture at home and abroad and generate income.
5. Socioeconomic and extension:-

• Problem appraisal & prioritization
• Demonstration & popularization
• Cross cutting & Gender studies

• Adoption and impact studies 

Manpower

The center has a total of 28 staff members.

• Researchers=15 (PhD= 0, MSc=9 , BSc= 6)
• Technicians =3
• Support  staff=10

Achievements

Although Tigray has immense beekeeping potentials, the benefits from the sector are often poorly utilized which lead to its low production and productivity. Regardless of the fact that the MBRC is at its infant stage, so far, it has conducted different research activities and provide valuable recommendation and direction to improve the apiculture sector in the region. It has been working to generate/develop valuable technologies /hard and soft/ in areas of;

• Bee forage identification and propagation techniques
• Identification of honeybee enemies and diseases,
• Colony multiplication /grafting and splitting/
• Assessment of honey bee and beeswax quality
• Honeybee behavior and
• Alternative low cost technologies (Bamboo hive and Cement made casting mould….)
• Providing trainings (2023) for 250 farmers and 40 experts of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) beneficiary at Wukro, Enderta and Shire districts.

Contact Address:

Mekelle Bee Research and Training center (MBRC)

Fax: (+251) 344-416122

P.O.Box:1070

Mekele, Tigray, Ethiopia