Introduction to Apiculture

• Taxonomy of Honey Bees:
  In the animal kingdom, honey bees are classified as follows:
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Order: Hymenoptera
  • Superfamily: Apoidea
  • Family: Apidae

Products from Honey Bees:
Honey bees produce various valuable products, including:

• Honey: Highly nutritious food and medicinal product.
• Beeswax: Used in cosmetics, polishes, and candle making.
• Pollen: A source of protein and used as a dietary supplement.
• Royal Jelly: A special food for the queen bee, known for its health benefits.
• Bee Venom: Used in apitherapy for its medicinal properties.

Role in Pollination:

• Beyond hive products, honey bees play a vital role in pollination, ensuring plant reproduction while collecting nectar and pollen.
• Pollination is crucial for maintaining ecological balance and supporting the economy.
• Cross-pollination by honey bees enhances hybridization and helps sparse plant populations survive, showcasing a strong co-evolution between bees and flowering plants.

Definition of Apiculture: The science of rearing honey bees or beekeeping is called apiculture.

Development of Beekeeping in India

Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC):

• Established the Directorate of Beekeeping in Mumbai and the Central Bee Research & Training Institute in Pune.
• Initiated modern and scientific beekeeping practices across India.
• Recognized the potential for increasing agricultural productivity through cross-pollination and enhancing farmers’ income through apiculture.

National Bee Board (NBB):

• Reconstituted in June 2006, the National Bee Board is headquartered in New Delhi.
• Objectives:
  • Promote Scientific Beekeeping in India.
  • Enhance crop productivity through effective pollination.
  • Increase honey production to boost income for beekeepers and farmers.

History of Apiculture

Primitive Beekeeping:

• Early humans harvested honey by robbing wild bee colonies in hollow trees, rocks, or traditional mud houses.
• This practice continues among some indigenous tribes even today.
• No significant advancements were made in beekeeping until the 16th century.

Evolution of Hive Designs:

• Initial beekeeping began when humans started protecting wild bee colonies found in nature.
• The concept of log hives was inspired by fallen trees naturally inhabited by cavity-nesting bees.
• Numerous attempts to domesticate bees in different hive types occurred between 1500 and 1851, but were unsuccessful due to bees attaching combs to hive walls, necessitating comb cutting to extract honey.

Modern Beekeeping Revolution:

• In 1851, L. L. Langstroth from the USA discovered the principle of bee space (9.5 mm for Apis mellifera), leading to the invention of the movable frame hive.
• This discovery paved the way for modern beekeeping, followed by the development of essential beekeeping tools like:
  • Comb foundation mill
  • Honey extractor
  • Smoker

Beekeeping in India

• Beekeeping in India has evolved from traditional practices to modern scientific methods with the establishment of the National Bee Board and initiatives by KVIC.
• India’s diverse flora provides a rich source of nectar and pollen, making it suitable for commercial beekeeping.
• Efforts to revive beekeeping are supported by public and private sectors, emphasizing its role in agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods.