After reading this article you will learn about:- 1. Introduction to Beekeeping 2. Equipments Required for Beekeeping 3. Honey Extraction 4. Wax Extraction 5. Marketing of Honey 6. Government Support 7. Training
Introduction to Beekeeping:
Beekeeping is an important agriculture based subsidiary occupation. It can be adopted as subsidiary or main occupation by fanners, ladies, students, and unemployed youth. There is no requirement of land for starting beekeeping. Investment of money is also relatively low.
Beekeeping can be practiced as stationary or migratory however, migratory beekeeping is more profitable. Average honey production by Italian honey bees under stationary beekeeping is 20 kg per colony per year whereas it is 60 kg honey per colony per year under migratory beekeeping.
Apart from honey, beeswax, propolis, pollen, bee venom and royal jelly are other hive products. Beekeeping income can further be increased by rearing and selling queen bees and surplus honey bees. Honey bees increase crop yield and improve crop produce quality by pollinating our field, fruit and vegetable crops.
Earlier, beekeeping in India was practiced by rearing Indian honey bee Apis cerana. But it was mainly confined to hilly and southern states of India. Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana successfully introduced Italian honey bees in India during 1962-64 at Nagrota Bagwan and in 1965 at PAU Ludhiana.
Colonies of this bee were given to Punjab farmers in 1976 and later on to other states of India. Beekeeping with Italian honey bees developed quickly and established Punjab as leader in honey production and export.
Equipments Required for Beekeeping:
For starting beekeeping, hive, honey bee, hive tool, bee veil, smoker and comb foundations are needed (Fig 6.2). Honey extractor may be hired from other beekeepers as and when required.
Bee Flora:
Toria, sarson, gobhi sarson, eucalyptus, berseem, pear, sunflower, sheesham and arhar are very good source of nectar and pollen to honey bees in the Punjab. Apart from these, litchi, ber, khair, acacia, sesame and cucurbits also provide nectar and pollen to bees.
Suitable Season to Start:
February-March and November are suitable for starting beekeeping in Punjab.
Selection of Site:
Site for apiary (place where honey bee colonies are placed) should have availability of bee flora for most part of the year and provision for shade and water. It should be away from highway or railway tracks but easily approachable. It should not be a low lying area.
Purchase of Colonies:
Preferably start new colony with eight bee frames for higher productivity. Purchase new colonies having young mated queen bee, open and sealed brood, pollen and honey but with minimum drone brood and drone bees population.
Transportation of Colonies:
Colonies should be shifted only during late night or early morning by closing the gates of the hives. Place these colonies at the selected site with hive to hive distance of 6-8 feet and row to row distance of 10 feet.
Honey Extraction:
Never extract honey from combs having brood also. Do not extract unripe honey, as its shelf life is low. Honey bees seal ripe honey with a layer of wax. Select such ripe honey combs. Remove bees from these combs by shaking and with the help of bee brush. Take these combs to a room or large mosquito net.
Remove wax layer (honey cell capping) from honey combs with the help of uncapping knife. Extract honey by rotating these combs in honey extractor. After extracting honey, empty combs should be given back to the colonies. Remove wax and floating impurities from the extracted honey and filter it through double layer of muslin. Store honey in steel or food grade plastic containers.
Wax Extraction:
Capping removed from honey combs, very old, broken or damaged combs or wild bee combs may be put in hot water and filtered through thick cloth. Larger impurities remaining on the top of the cloth are discarded. Filtrate containing water and molten wax should be allowed to settle overnight. Wax being lighter in weight than water, will come to the surface and harden. Remove this wax cake the next morning.
Marketing of Honey:
Honey in Punjab is being procured by honey traders and exporters. Several Self Help Groups (SHGs) are also actively involved in honey marketing. In retail market, bottling of honey in attractive bottle with proper label will increase profitability from honey trading (Fig 6.3).
Government Support for Beekeeping:
For further development of beekeeping, Government is providing subsidy on bee hives and honey bee colonies through National Horticulture Mission. Subsidy on honey extractor, drip tray, uncapping knife, and food grade plastic containers for honey storage is also being provided by the Government.
Training for Beekeeping:
Practical training on beekeeping may be obtained from Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana, Krishi Vigyan Kendras or Department of Agriculture. More information on beekeeping may be obtained from PAU publication ‘Italian madhu makhian di sambh sambhal’ (Management of Italian honey bees) in Punjabi.