What is beekeeping?
Beekeeping is the maintenance of bee colonies, commonly in man-made hives, by humans. It is also called Apiculture.
Honey is widely used and therefore beekeeping for making honey has become an agricultural enterprise. Since bee-keeping needs low investments, farmers use it as an additional income- generating activity. In addition to honey, the beehives are a source of wax which is used in various medicinal preparations.
Which bees are used to produce honey for commercial gain?
The local varieties of bees used for commercial honey production are
- Apis cerana indica, the Indian bee
- Apis dorsata, the rock bee
- Apis florea, the little bee
An Italian bee variety, Apis mellifera, has also been brought in to increase the yield of honey.
The Italian bees have high honey collection capacity. They sting somewhat less. They stay in a given beehive for long periods and breed very well. For commercial honey production, bee farms or apiaries are established.
Which is the factor on which the quality of honey depends?
The quality of honey depends on Pasturage, or the flowers available to the bees for nectar and pollen collection. Flowers are the source of nectar; hence, better the quality of flowers, better the quality of honey.