Maximizing income through beekeeping (Apis mellifera) by following right management practices

Abstract

Beekeeping has the potential to diversify the income of farmers in addition to regular farm income. This can lead to a wealthier farmer and also a respectable source of income to unemployed youth. The present research was designed to find out how farmers can maximize their apiary income by following practices that are scientifically proved. Apis melllifera colonies were managed at different initial strengths of 5, 10, and 15 frames and were subjected to three types of honey extractions namely regular, two times in the season, and one time during the entire honey flow season, during 2014–15 and 2015–16. Benefit cost ratio (B: C) indicates that 15 frame colonies having mean 1:1.50 were the highest return gainer while the weakest has the lowest with 1:1.73 during 2014–15, and 10 frame colonies were observed with a 1:1.63 B:C ratio that is good compared with five frame colonies. Total expenditure was lowest in fiveframe colonies 17729/- and 17035/-, the first during the first and second years respectively and similarly gave lowest net return 30535/- and 23552/- compared to 10 (43558/- & 34929/-) and 15 frames (52266/- and 49401/-) colonies. Honey extraction frequencies also have a remarkable impact on return and colony growth. Here five frame colonies with single extraction gave a net return of 34017/-, whereas the same strength colonies under regular extraction return, gave only 24715/-, A similar trend was observed with 10 and 15 frame strength. During the dearth period, colonies with high frame strength (15 frames) proved to be uneconomical, similar to that of the lowest frame colonies while 10 frame colonies remained the most economical.