Beekeeping: Helpful in increasing Income and Production of Crops

Bee Keeping | Some insects harm the crops, and it is necessary to protect the crops from them. But some insects are necessary for crops’ growth and good quality. Such insects include butterflies and bees etc. They produce pollen.

Bees convert the nectar of flowers into honey. Along with this, bees make pollination crops, due to which good quality seeds and crops are obtained. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is promoting beekeeping. An integrated and excellent beekeeping center has also been established at ICAR-Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Varanasi.

Farmers get double benefits from beekeeping. They can earn by selling honey, wax, royal jelly, silent poison, etc. Secondly, by pollinating the crops of bees, the crop increases, so their profits also increase.

Bee Species

There are many species of bees, and each species produces different amounts of honey. Generally, A. mellifera and A. Serena indicia bees are reared. India ranks fifth in honey production in the whole country. Currently, honeybees are being reared by 2 lakh registered honeybees in the country. But lakhs of beehives are needed for successful cross-pollination in agricultural and horticultural crops. That’s why the government is also promoting beekeeping.

Beekeeping will also generate employment. As far as the amount of honey obtained from bees is concerned, 6-8 kg from a hive of Indian Bees, 40-60 kg from a hive of European Bees, 36-40 kg from Rock Bees, and 0.5-1.0 kg of honey from Little Bees can be obtained every year.

Also Read: Beekeeping Business in India flourished like never before

Bees are helpful in Agriculture

The great scientist Albert Einstein said, ‘If the bee disappeared off the face of the Earth, man would only have four years left to live. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man.’  He was right, pollination is crucial for the growth of crops.

In our country, Rock Bee, Little Bee, Indian Bee and European Bee are reared for pollination. Rock Bee pollinates trees in forest areas as well as cotton, mango, coconut and pepper crops. Apart from this, Indian Bee pollinates 42 percent of the crops.

Pollination in Crops

According to experts, bees help in quality crop and seed production by pollinating 70 percent of the agricultural and horticultural crops of the whole world. You might be surprised to know that pollination of crops in about 50 million hectares of area in our country is dependent on bees. If there are no bees, there can be a loss of Rs 10,000 to Rs 55,000 per hectare in some crops. There is a need of 2000 lakh additional beehives in our country.

Which crops do Bee pollinate?

Bees 3 km from their hive. m. Able to pollinate within a radius of up to In horticulture crops – apple, pear, cherry, strawberry, litchi, lemon, grapes, almond, peach, guava, amla, apricot, etc., pollination is done by bees. In vegetable crops- Radish, Cabbage, Turnip, Carrot, Onion, Cabbage, Cucumber, Bitter gourd, Pumpkin, Coriander. In pulse crops, pollination is done in sunflower, ramtil, mustard, safflower, sesame.

It has been proved in the research of ICAR that due to pollination, the production of crops is good and more. That’s why there is a need to promote beekeeping. Along with this, the country’s need of honey will be fulfilled and the farmers will get an excellent source of income.

Also Read: Eco-Friendly Plates and Cups made from Wheat Straw

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