Introduction  Collection of honey from the forests has been in existence for a long time.

 Honey
bees convert nectar of flowers into honey and store them in the combs of the hive and the growing
market potential for honey and its products has resulted in bee keeping emerging as a viable
enterprise. Honey and wax are the two economically important products of bee keeping.  Bee
keeping is an agro based enterprise for additional income generation Beekeeping is one of the oldest
tradition in India for collecting the honey. Honey bee farming [APICULTURE] is becoming popular due
its market demand in national and international markets as well. Not only the farmers make a sweet
dividends but beekeeping also help increase agriculture productivity through pollination. Honeybees
also produce honey, bee wax and royal jelly thus giving additional benefits to the farmers. After
successive losses in traditionally grown crops, farmers are inclining towards bee farming. In order to
maximize agricultural production, honeybee can be used as an important input agent. About 80 %
crop plants are cross-pollinated, as they need to receive pollen from other plants of the same species
with the help of external agents. One of the most important external agents is the honeybee.
Farmers planning for commercial honey bee farming should consider taking apiculture training.
Usually, a colony consists of a queen, several thousand workers and a few hundred drones. There is a
division of labour and specialization in the performance of various functions. They build nests which
are called as “combs” with wax, which is secreted from the wax glands of worker bees. The bees use
their cells to rear thin brood and store food. Honey is stored in the comb upper part. Under the
comb, there should be rows of pollen storage cells, worker brood cells and drone brood cells. Some
bee species build single comb in open where as others build multiple combs on dark cavities.
Farmers can utilize honeybees for their pollination services or to obtain products from them. The
methods used depend on the type of bees available, and the skills and resources available to the
beekeeper. Castes of Honey Bee:- Basically, every honey bee colony comprises of a single queen, a
few hundred drones and several thousand worker castes of honey bees. Queen is a fertile and
functional female where as a worker is a sterile female and the drone is a male bee insect.

:- There are 4 species honey bees has discussed below --

The giant bee. The little bee. The European or Italian bee. Dammer bee or Stingless bee. Steps
to Know Before Starting a Honey Bee Farming Project:– Generally there are certain steps to keep in
mind before going for beekeeping.  The first step in planning a beekeeping project is to become
familiar with the beehuman relationship in your area where you want to set up. Know more about
bees by involving practically.  It is advised to work with local beekeepers especially If you have no
experience working with bees. Learn and follow their advices in beekeeping management. It is quite
common having bee stings and they are part of beekeeping. Once you have become familiar with
the local bee-human relationship, ideas for introducing improved methods should be formulated and
then make a perfect plan for equipment to use and Where to market hive products. If you are just
beginning with bees, plan to work with just 1 or 2 individuals in the area. It is recommended to start
beekeeping with at least 2 hives. This gives an opportunity to compare the progress between a
number of hives which allows the project to continue should one colony die out. Also, management
aimed towards an apiary (bee yard) instead of individual hives can be stressed out.  While planning
a project, set realistic goals and go for a small project first then after getting experience in
beekeeping it is better off to for a large one.  The equipment to be used in a project depends on the
local situation. You should assess the availability of needed inputs as well as the technical aid
available in choosing what type or types of hive equipment are appropriate for your area and type of
bees.  Beekeeping equipment plays major role in succeeding the project. Identifying people in an
area who can make beekeeping equipment and getting it made can be success in itself. It can require
a lot of patience to coordinate getting the equipment together.  To market hive products, identify
any local agent or deal with already established market. Find out with other beekeepers for
marketing ideas. Farmers can also get in touch with local department of agriculture. Usually, local
bakers and candy makers are a potential market for honey. The prerequisites to start a Honey Bee
Farming (Beekeeping) are as follows:  Knowledge and training on beekeeping.  For training on
beekeeping, contact your local agriculture department or Agriculture University.  Knowledge on
local bee flora.  Sufficient local bee flora.  Knowledge of migratory beekeeping. Site
Requirements in Honey Bee Farming:-  The selected site should be dry without dampness. High RH
will affect bee flight and ripening of nectar.  Clean natural or artificial source of water should be
provided.  Trees serve as wind belts in cool areas.  Hives can be kept under shade of trees or
artificial structures should be constructed to provide shade.  Plants that yield pollen and nectar to
bees are called bee pasturage and florage. Such plants should be plenty around the apiary site.
Honey Bee Farming Equipment:- Here are the equipment used in most of the commercial honey bee
farming. However, find out with local beekeepers for appropriate agriculture equipment needed.
Thin & thick beekeeping brushes, SS knives, SS & iron hive tools of L shaped & curved shaped, Food
graded plastic made queen cage, queen gate, hive gate, Honey Extractor, Smoker, Queen Excluder,
Pollen Trap, Propolis Strip, Royal Jelly production & extraction Kit, Queen rearing kit, Bee venom
Collector. Crops benefited by Bee pollination in Honey Bee Farming:-  Fruits and nuts: Almond,
apple, apricot, peach, strawberry, citrus and litchi  Vegetable crops: Cabbage, coriander, cucumber,
cauliflower, carrot, melon, onion, pumpkin, radish and turnip.  Oilseed crops: Sunflower, mustard,
safflower, niger, rape seed, gingelly.  Forage seed crops: Lucerne, clover. Yield Increase Due to Bee
Pollination in Honey Bee Farming:- Crop % yield increase Mustard
44 Sunflower 32-45 Cotton 17-20 Lucerne 110 Onion
90 Apple 45 Management of bees for pollination in Honey Bee Farming:-  It is
recommended to place hives very near the field to save bee’s energy.  It is recommended to
migrate colonies near the field at 10 % flowering.  It is recommended to place colonies at 3 per ha
for Italian bee and 5 per ha for Indian bees.  The colonies should have at least 5 to 6 frame strength
of bees and with sealed brood and young mated queen.  Should allow sufficient space for pollen
and honey storage. Pests and Diseases in Honey Bee Farming:-  Wax moths, Ants, Wasps, Wax
beetles, Birds, Tracheal Mites, The parasitic mite Varroa destructor, Bee mites, Brood mite are the
common pests found in honey bee farming.  Nosema Disease, European foul-brood disease,
American Foul Brood, Sacbrood disease (SBV),Thai sac brood virus (TSBV), Chalk brood disease and
stone brood disease are the main diseases found in the honey bee farming. For control measures of
these pests and diseases, contact local department of agriculture. Harvesting of Bee Products in
Honey Bee Farming:- Honey, Bees Wax, Royal Jelly, Bee Venom, Propolis & Pollen is the main bee
products. Honey should be harvested at the end of a flowering season. In traditional or top-bar hives,
the beekeeper should select a comb which contain ripe honey covered with a fine layer of white
beeswax, usually those nearest the outside of the nest. Honey is extracted only from super combs
using honey extractor equipment. Economics of Beekeeping:-