ROYAL UNIVERSITY OF BHUTAN

COLLEGE OF NATURAL RESOURCES

LOBESA: PUNAKHA

Title

Writing final paper on Beekeeping: A viable activity to alleviate Poverty and

Generate employment.

(ACADEMIC WRITING SKILLS)

Arjun Gurung B.Sc Animal Science 2011

Table of Contents

Beekeeping:A viable activity to alleviate poverty and generate employment..............................1

1.1 Why Beekeeping : Introduction......................................Error! Bookmark not defined.1

1.2 Honeybees as pollinator......................................................................................................1

Modern apiculture in Bhutan: Problems and Prospects................................................................2

2.1 Apis cerana (native): Problems and prospects....................................................................4

2.2 Apis mellifera (exotic): Problems and prospects.................................................................4

2.3 Why Apis cerana beekeeping for Bhutanese farmers?.......................................................5

Conclusion....................................................................................................................................5

Reference list................................................................................................................................6

List of tables

Table 1: Impact of honeybee (Apis cerana) pollination on fruit productivity

(Himachal Pradesh, India)………………………………………………………………………2

Beekeeping: A viable activity to alleviate poverty and generate employment.

Introduction: Why beekeeping?

Beekeeping is a very fascinating occupation and a commercially

attractive proposition (Verma, 1989). It can be practiced equally by men,

women, grown up children and even by physically handicapped and old

persons. The investment required is low, and the economic returns are

comparatively very high. Beekeeping does not bring any pressure on agricultural land. In

addition to the direct income from high-value-low-volume green bee products; beekeeping

generates off-farm employment opportunities in many fields including hive carpentry, renting

of bee colonies for pollination and bee-based micro-enterprises. Beekeeping is a decentralized

industry and does not displace persons from their villages. It produces honey, beeswax, pollen,

propolis from the flowers which otherwise dry up in nature and go waste. If conditions are

favourable, level of beekeeping can be increased to semi-commercial or commercial level

(Sukla, 2008)

Honeybees as pollinator

Though the honeybees are best known for the honey they produce, their

economic role in nature is to pollinate large number of agricultural and

horticultural crops to increase yield per acre (Chandramukhi, 2009).

According to Agricultural Scientists, value of increased crop yields due to

honeybee pollination is 10 to 15 times more than the value of honey and beeswax the

honeybees produce. Even though pesticide use is still on the rise in modern agriculture;

managed pollination has been able to make up for certain pollinator deficiencies and has

increased productivity and thus incomes. In places like the USA, Canada, Europe, and Japan,

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honeybees have long been used for the pollination of crops like apples, almonds, pears, plums,

etc.

Tables 1 illustrates the importance of managed pollination and the economic value that

pollination can have for agricultural and horticultural crops.

Table 1: Impact of honeybee (Apis cerana) pollination on fruit productivity(Himachal Pradesh, India)

Crop

Increase infruit set (%)

Increase in fruitweight (%)

Increase in fruit size length, diameter (%)

Apple 10 33 15, 10

Peach 22 44 29, 23

Plum 13 39 11, 14

Citrus 24 35 9, 35 Premature fruit drop decreased by 46%,juice increased by 68%, and sugar content in juice by 39%

Strawberry 112 48 Misshapen fruits decreased

by 50% Source: Partap 2002

Modern apiculture in Bhutan: Problems and Prospects

In the past attempts were made to introduce modern apiculture methods

in Bhutan with the native Apis cerana in movable-frame hive in Samtse

and Gelephu but all of them ended in failure(Verma,1989). Difficulties

did not lie in the lack of bee resources or cold temperate climate. The

major reasons for failure were certain drawbacks in the human environment which can be

summed up as follows:

1. Lack of information on beekeeping and skilled manpower.

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2. Poor knowledge about bee and flora resources.

3. Lack of measures to overcome calamities such as bee diseases, predators and pests.

4. Beekeeping method is still primitive and honey production minimal.

5. Lack of knowledge on multiplication of honeybee colonies by queen rearing which can play

a major role in up-scaling of beekeeping activity.

One of the strongest arguments in favour of developing apiculture in Bhutan is the

abundance of rich and diverse bee flora, in comparison to other areas of the Hindu-Kush-

Himalaya (verma,1989). Bhutan has the maximum per capita forest area (2.37 ha) and also the

second largest total area (72%) under forests in the world (NEC, 2008). With such richness and

diversity, Bhutan could become a veritable land of honey. The current policies of the

Government for the preservation of forests and mountain areas ensure that tremendous

potential for the development of apiculture exists. The plan of the Government to expand the

cultivation of subtropical and temperate fruits would require a corresponding increase in

pollination resources and technology. This can be achieved through appropriately managed bee

hives.

In a temperate country like Bhutan, most areas may not be able to provide bee flora

throughout the year. Under these circumstances, beekeepers have two choices, i.e. to feed the

colonies with sugar syrup or move them to other areas(migratory apiculture) where bee flora

are available and harvest more than two crops of honey in a year (Chandramukhi,2009).A

recent FAO report states “In view of the importance of honey bees for increasing the yield of

cross-pollinated crops, Himachal Pradesh in northern India has taken the lead in renting Apis

cerana and Apis millifera to the orchardists for the pollination of apples. This program has

helped to create awareness amongst the orchard owners of the importance of honeybee for

pollination.” The time is ripe for Bhutan to follow the example of Himachal Pradesh and start

pilot project on bee pollination in apple growing areas of Bhutan.

In 2010 and 2011,economic analyses particularly the cash-flow projections of honey

production carried out by researchers based in Bumthang with the existing farmers groups like

BEKAP (Apis mellifera) and Samkhara Sepjam Tshogpa (Apis cerana) has revealed that bee

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keeping activity both with native Apis cerana as well as exotic Apis mellifera is commercially

viable and attractive.

There are two species of bees currently domesticated in Bhutan. It is important for

us to understand the pros and cons of these bees to decide the promotion of bee species most

suitable to the socio-ecology of Bhutan and Bhutanese farmers.

Apis cerana (native): Problems and prospects

Asian hive bee native to Hindu-Kush-Himalaya well adapted to the Himalayan region.

Average honey production per year is 10kg to the maximum of 20kg.

Not much aggressive and easy to handle for supervision and colony management.

Colony strength is 15000 to 20000.

Foraging range is 800 – 1000metres

Can be successfully kept up to 3400 m.a.s.l height.

More swarming, absconding and robbing behavior but less prone to diseases.

Apis mellifera (exotic): Problems and prospects

European honeybee introduced in Bhutan by Mr. Fritz Maurer in 1986.

Honey production is 40 – 60 kgs per hive annually

Healthy colony has more than 35000 bees

Can go two kilometers for foraging

Can be kept up to 1500 meters altitude

Attacked more by disease parasites and enemies like hornets, mites and wax moth.

Require sensitive care and appropriate technology resulting in huge investment which is

beyond the reach of Bhutanese farmers.

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Why Apis cerana beekeeping for Bhutanese farmers?

Low cost( less amount of investment and associated risks)

Resistant against diseases (no need for medicine) and predators.

Can adapt to different climatic conditions(extreme cold to hot)

Work for longer hours

Can identify diverse sources for foraging and nectar collection

Part of our nature and cultural heritage of the society.

Conclusion

Department of Livestock under the MOA is in the process of

recognizing beekeeping as one of the core activity for income generation.

Therefore, it can be basically concluded that, for the development of

apiculture on sound scientific lines, the following action plans or strategies has

to be made and implemented. It was also found that, before starting the major up-scaling of

commercial beekeeping, much-needed information should be developed on different practical

aspects of apiculture in order to make it an easy and attractive income generating activity to the

rural communities of our country. The types of information required are:

1. Survey of honey plant resources and preparation of floral calendars.

2. Establishment of demonstration apiaries which is already being done by research centers.

3. Manual in practical apiculture (in English and local languages) needs to be developed for

beginners.

4. More in-depth study on economics of apiculture in Bhutan should be carried out.

5. More selection and breeding is essential for better colonies with higher productivity.

Keeping in mind the vast scope and potential of apiculture, researchers from RNR-

RDC, Jakar has been acting as the core agency for promoting, fostering and establishing an

apicultural industry in Bhutan. Since apiculture fits into the policies and programs of ICIMOD,

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the institution has supported the researchers and farmers alike in financial and material terms.

The support is still continued.

Reference list

Verma, L.R. (1989): Honeybees in Mountain Agriculture.

Sukla, Aniruddha. (2008): Beekeeping Trainers’ Resource Book

Chandramukhi, B. (2009): Role of apiculture in increasing crop yields in horticulture. Proceedings of the workshop held on 28th February, 2008.Maharastra state Government.

Gurung, M.B and S.Joshi. (2007): Beekeeping and rural development.ICIMOD, Nepal.

Partap. (2002): Impact of honeybee (Apis cerana) pollination on fruit productivity(Himachal Pradesh, India).

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