• Albert Einstein once said:

“If the bee disappears from the surface of the

earth, man would have no more than four
years to live. No more bees, no more
pollination …...... no more men!”

If we die we’re
taking you with us
“CURRENT STATUS OF BEEKEEPING IN
INDIA”

ELP
ENT-425

Course Teacher
Dr. UMESH CHANDRA
Department of Agril. Entomology,
ANDUAT KUMARGANJ, AYODHYA
 Content
 Introduction
 Importance and scope of beekeeping
 Species of honey bee
 Present status of beekeeping in India
 Enemies of honey bee
 Constraints for development of beekeeping
 Reasons for decline honey bee population
 Strategies to increase bee population
 Conclusion
 Future prospects
 Introduction
BEEKEEPING : Latin word apiscultura.
Apis = "bee"
cultura = "cultivation through
education."
The beekeeping is an art and skill of maintaining the bees in modem

movable frame hives for hobby or fascination, production of hive

products (honey, beeswax, etc.) and for pollination services

Beekeeping is a high profit enterprise, It does not interfere with

other agricultural activities and provides income

It plays a great role in agricultural diversification

5
 Importance & scope of Beekeeping

 Ideal subsidiary or whole time occupation

 Generation of sources of income
 Employment opportunities
 Need for deploying about 150 million Bee colonies for
pollinating major agricultural crops in the country
 Value addition of hive products into lotion, soap,
lipstick
 No require any special land
 Suitability of Beekeeping as an Agro-based
Enterprise

 No need of any special land

 No competition with other agricultural enterprises for
the resources
 Not require heavy initial investment
 Ideal as a part-time occupation
 Requires simple equipments
 Beekeeping is a multiple source of income
 Pollination by bees improves the quantity and quality
of the crop
 Species of honey bee
Four species of honey bees found in India are…
1) Rock bee (Apis dorsata Fabricius):
They produce about 36 kg honey/comb/year.

2) Little bee (Apis florea Fabricius):

They produce about 500 g honey/comb/year.

3) Indian bee (Apis cerana indica Fabricius):

They produce about 5 kg honey/comb/year.

4) European bee [Italian bee] (Apis mellifera Linnaeus):

They produce about 35 kg honey/comb/year.

Stingless bee (Trigona iridipennis Dal. / Tetragonula laeviceps Smith)

In addition to the above, another species is also present in Kerala known as
stingless bees. They are not truly stingless, ovipositor is rudimentary. They are
an efficient pollinators. They yield 300-400 g of honey per year.
 • Rock bee / Gaint honey bee
• Largest bee about 20 mm
• Construct single comb
• Produce 36 kg honey/comb/year
• Ferrocious and difficult to rear
Rock bee (Apis dorsata )

• Little bee
• Smallest size of bee
• Construct single vertical comb
• Produce 500 gm/honey/year
• Not rearable as they
frequently change their place

Little bee (Apis florea)

 • Indian bee
• Construct multiple parallel comb
• Produce 5 kg honey/comb/year
• Domesticated species

Indian bee (Apis cerana indica)

• European bee
• Construct parallel comb
• 35 kg honey/comb/year
• Domesticated species

European bee (Apis mellifera)

 Honey bees as the best pollinators

􀂙 The especially modified body parts to pick up pollen grains, e.g.,

pollen baskets in the hind legs ie., corbicula;
􀂙 Presence of body hairs;
􀂙 Exhibit flower constancy and fidelity;
􀂙 Potential for long working hours;
􀂙 Special communication system because of their social behavior;
􀂙 Thorough micro-manipulation of flowers;
􀂙 Ability to maintain high populations when and where necessary
􀂙 Adaptability to different climates and niche
 Present status of Beekeeping in INDIA
 India is ranked 8th in the top ten of the leading Producer
of honey & rank 9th in honey exporting countries.
 Honey producing units - 2.64 lakh
 No. of bee colonies - 30 lakhs
 Production of honey - 94500 MT
 Export of honey - 38000 MT
 Import of honey - 400 MT
 Consumption of honey per capita - 70 gm
 Providing employment - 3 lakh persons
 200 million Bee colonies are required for enhancing crop yield
which will provide employment to 215 lakh persons
 Beekeeping Institutions

 All India Beekeepers’ Association

 Agricultural Products Export Development Authority
(APEDA)
 Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation
of India Ltd (TRIFED)
 Central Bee Research and Training Institute
 Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC)
 Inspection Council (EIC)
 National Bee Board
Top Honey Exporter State of India
 List of Honey Exporters in India

• Kejriwal Bee Care India Private Limited

• APIS India Limited
• BRIJ Honey Private Limited
• Allied Natural Product
• Pioneer Food & Agro Industries Private Limited
• Ganpati Natural Products
• Dabur India Limited
• Queenbee Foods Pvt. Ltd.
Largest Honey Export Partners of India
 Khadi & Village Industries Board Nodal
Agency
 Uttar pradesh State Khadi and Village Industries Board was
established in 1983.
 Main objectives : Research
Training
Extension
Marketing
 Nodal Agency
 Present Schemes

1) Western Ghat Development Programme

2) Prime Ministers Employment Generation
Programme
3) National Horticulture Mission
4) Scheme of ATMA Through Agriculture
Department 
5) National Bee Keeping & Honey Mission (NBHM)
 Major constraints for the development of
beekeeping in India
 Lack of Technical Knowledge for Efficient Management of Colonies
for High Honey Yields
 Lack of Infrastructure at the Grass Roots and National Level for
Beekeeping
 Poor Quality Control for the Production of Honey
 Emphasis on Production of Honey Instead of other Bee Products
 Disease Prevention Control and Analysis
 Lack of Sufficient Financial Help from Government and Lending
Institutions for the Development of Beekeeping
 No Control on the Use of Pesticides by Farmers Leading to Death of
Bee Colonies in Field Locations
 Reasons for decline honey bee population

 Habitat loss - less forage and shelter for bees

 Climate change - disrupting bee behaviour

 Pesticides including neonicotinoids - harming bee health

 Pests and disease

 Invasive species - bad news for bees?

 Cellular effects of mobile radiations

 FUTURE PROSPECTS

 
 Honey industry in the country can well become a major
foreign exchange earner if international standards are met.
 Beekeeping is an age-old tradition in India but it is
considered a no-investment profit giving venture in most areas.
 It has been recognised that it has the potential to develop as a
prime agri-horticultural and forest-based industry.
 Honey production is a profitable business and it generates
employment.
 The informal sector is providing up to 70% of the honey &
bees wax market in India.
 Indian honey has a good export market. With the use of
modern collection, storage, beekeeping equipment, honey
processing plants and bottling technologies the potential export
market can be tapped.
 CONCLUSION

•According to NITI Aayog estimated CAGR of apiculyure market is

4.3% during 2020-2025.

• There is need for deploying about 150 million Bee colonies for
pollinating major agricultural crops in the country.  

• Beekeeping employs 2,50,000 people in India and provide

employment opportunities.

• Beekeeping is excellent and multiple source of income by

providing part time occupation.

• So there is a great potential and scope of beekeeping in the country.