TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Chiayi County held the second session of its smart beekeeping program Wednesday, introducing modular beehives and data interpretation to help farmers improve production efficiency, according to a county government press release.
The county agriculture department said beekeeping relies heavily on manual patrols and inspections. Specialists demonstrated how data interpretation can help predict hive conditions, freeing beekeepers to address other priorities.
Miaoli District Agricultural Research and Extension Station Associate Researcher Hsu Pei-hsiu (徐培修) discussed smart beekeeping applications and sensing technology. Sunmei Honey owner Ho Kuan-hsun (何冠勳) shared management experience, while Tsai Tung-yu (蔡東佑) demonstrated a smart hive sensing system.
The department said the equipment package includes a weather station, weighing scales, temperature and humidity sensors, and outdoor cameras. Eight Chiayi County beekeepers have adopted smart hives, with testing showing the technology can save about six hours of inspection time per week and increase honey yields by about 10%.
The agriculture department said it has also held subsidized training programs for smart irrigation and smart rice paddy management. The county said the initiatives are part of a broader strategy to coordinate cross-sector resources and provide trainees with subsidies and accessible technology to pursue more efficient and sustainable production methods.
(Chiayi County Government photo)
