Bee-keeping (Apiculture)
• The maintenance of hives of honeybees for the production of honey is termed bee-keeping or apiculture.
• Bee-keeping is practiced in any area where there is availability of sufficient bee pastures of some wild shrubs, fruit orchards and cultivated crops.
• Among several species of honeybees, one of the most common that can be reared is Apis indica.
• A successful bee-keeping requires:
i. Knowledge of the nature and habits of bees.
ii. Selection of a suitable location for keeping the beehives.
iii. Catching and hiving of swarms (groups of bees).
iv. Management of beehives during different seasons.
v. Handling and collection of honey and beeswax.
Ecological Importance of Bees
• Bees are the pollinators of many crop species like sunflower, Brassica, apple and pear. So keeping beehives in crop fields during flowering period increases both crop yield and honey yield.
Commercial Importance of Bees
i. Honey is used as food of very high nutritive value.
ii. Honey is also used in the indigenous system of medicines.
iii. Beeswax produced by honeybees is used in industry to prepare cosmetics and polishes.
