Role of honey bees in farm production, agricultural growth and rural reconstruction in India

摘要

Honey bees are the major pollinating agents of oilseeds, pulses, fruits and vegetable crops as well as seed crops of leguminous fodders, vegetables (edible leaf/shoot/root) and several fibre crops. They, thus make their involvement in food crop management consequent to green revolution; in fodder and feed management helping white revolution and industrial raw material management helping industrial growth. In order to achieve the benefit levels of efficient use of farm inputs and varietal capacity weshall need efficient and assured pollination, Underthe present day conditions, assured pollination can only be achieved by managing optimum level of pollinating agents. Such an effect is possible only by managing bees to be utilized at proper and opportune time when it is best needed, or in other words, by beekeeping. Besides, the bees contribute to national health through their nutritious honey, pollen food and its other products having medicinal value. Bees and beekeeping also contribute to the uplift of rural masses by way of employment generation and as subsidiary occupation to supplement their income.