Research & Reviews: Journal of Zoological Sciences
Menue-ISSN: 2321-6190 p-ISSN: 2347-2294
e-ISSN: 2321-6190 p-ISSN: 2347-2294
Department of Zoology, Bangalore University, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
Received Date: 04/09/2013; Revised Date: 16/09/2013; Accepted Date: 04/10/2013
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A detailed study on beekeeping and beekeepers of Uttarakannada showed major administrative, technical, and financial constraints. Low and limited subsidy (17.34%), tax on extractor and bee box (18.8%), lack of supply of colonies along with boxes (15.6%) and sanction of migration grant (15.49%) are the major administrative and financial constraints of beekeepers. Non-accessibility of modern bee management technology for the practices of queen rearing and value addition of bee products are the other constraints (6.25%).Lack of awareness in disease control because of knowledge practice gap is the other problem to be noticed.
Apiscerana, beekeeping, constraints, value addition.
Beekeeping in Uttarkannada has its own problems and limitations, because of constant rain during rainy season ISA type of bee boxes are not preferred .On the other hand local Newton type of bee boxes with slope roofs are preferred. But the government does not give subsidy to these bee boxes. Migration grant was earlier given but is removed now. Migration of bee colonies in coastal areas is essential for golden soap nut honey production. So there is need of migration for value added honey production. Skilled training is the need of the hour as it can alone give rise to future beekeepers with knowledge. Social forestry has resulted in depletion of bee flora, persistent Thai-sac-brood disease in coastal areas; difficulties in queen bee rearing are some of the other problems. Looking at the vast potential to generate honey with the natural resources, these constraints should not become hindrance for better economic prosperity. So the present study was undertaken to identify such constraints and tackling these constraints by understanding them.
83 beekeepers from Ankola, Honnavar, Sirsi and Siddapur were randomly selected to analyze the constraints faced by the beekeepers through questionnaire. All the randomly selected 83 beekeepers were asked to report problems faced by them. Majority of beekeepers reported multiple problems/response. The constraints reported by respondents were classified into three categories, administrative, financial and technical [1-8].
Beekeepers facing multiple constraints (77.9%) were more than beekeepers with constraints such as non-availability of subsidy for the purchase of local bee boxes (17.34%), removal of tax on extractor and bee box (18.8%), lack of skilled training i.e., lack of supply of bee boxes along with colonies (15.6%), sanction of working capital to bee co-operative societies (0.8%), and lack of migration grant (15.49%), negligence of Beekeepers Co-operative societies was reported by 9.87%.
Among technical constraint, 6.25% felt the need of training for value added component of bee products and modern beekeeping management practices. 6% wanted to learn to rear single queen bee commercially, 8.2% were eager to know the medicines used in controlling common bee diseases, 1.56% were interested to know about the preventive measures of absconding and desertion of bee colonies, pesticide poisoning of honey bees was reported by 2.05%, interestingly 22.09% beekeepers did not complain of any constraints.
Table 1: Administrative and Financial constraints.
Table 2: Technical constraints of beekeeping.
Beekeeping and beekeepers of Uttarakannada are being encountered by a series of administrative, financial and technological constraints. Results of the study suggested that lack of skilled training from competent personnel, bee nursery, queen rearing, subsidy on bee migration and remunerative prices for bee products are the major factors affecting the beekeeping in Uttarakannada. Availability of floral calendars of the study area and propagation of bee flora is the need of the hour.