Apiculture

Why bees matter: the importance of bees and other pollinators for food and agriculture

For centuries bees, busy as they are known to be, have benefited people, plants and the planet. But did you know that bees are not the only ones that sustain life on earth? By carrying pollen from one flower to another, bees, butterflies, birds, bats and other pollinators facilitate and …

Why bees matter: the importance of bees and other pollinators for food and agriculture

For centuries bees, busy as they are known to be, have benefited people, plants and the planet. But did you know that bees are not the only ones that sustain life on earth? By carrying pollen from one flower to another, bees, butterflies, birds, bats and other pollinators facilitate and …

Spatial and taxonomic patterns of honey bee foraging: A choice test between urban and agricultural landscapes

The health of honey bee colonies cannot be understood apart from the landscapes in which they live. Urban and agricultural developments are two of the most dramatic and widespread forms of human land use, but their respective effects on honey bees remain poorly understood. Here, we evaluate the relative attractiveness …

Traditional Meliponiculture by Naga tribes in Nagaland, India

In Nagaland, three species (Tetragonula irridipenis, Tetragonula laviceps and Lophotrigona canifrons) of stingless bees were observed; however, most of the beekeepers were rearing T. irridipenis. Stingless bees were found to prefer low light, high humidity, and stenothermal climatic conditions with diverse abundant flora. The traditional colony capture method of terrestrial …

Emerging viral disease risk to pollinating insects: ecological, evolutionary and anthropogenic factors

The potential for infectious pathogens to spillover and emerge from managed populations to wildlife communities is poorly understood, but ecological, evolutionary and anthropogenic factors are all likely to influence the initial exposure and subsequent infection, spread and impact of disease. Fast-evolving RNA viruses, known to cause severe colony losses in …

Traditional beekeeping shows great promises for endangered indigenous bee Apis cerana

Nagaland dwellings plentiful bee flora is as a natural endowment. Indigenous techniques, equipments and traditional beekeeping knowledge are goldsmith due to simplicity and low cost input, shows great promise to visionaries for their envisage. The suitable agro-climate, plenty bee flora and immemorial practice with rich traditional knowledge offers enormous potential …

Bees bring a new buzz to family farming in Zimbabwe

One way that family farmers improve their resilience to both climatic and economic shocks is to diversify what is produced. More and different crops and livestock, particularly local varieties and breeds are being promoted. Two other options stand out too – bees and trees. These have the added advantages of …

Pollinators – key for agro biodiversity conservation

Initiatives and innovations promoted by Keystone Foundation have helped promote bee keeping amongst farmers and tribal communities around the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. The impacts are visible in terms of better yields in coffee, mango and vegetable crops.

Vohra calls for making J&K self-reliant in agri-production

SRINAGAR: The Governor, N. N. Vohra, has called for engendering very close coordination between the research and extension agencies to effectively transfer new techniques and know how from lab to land to make Jammu and Kashmir fully self-reliant in agriculture and all the allied sectors within the next 3-4 years …

HC raps govt over Suvarna Bhoomi scheme

The High Court has directed the Government to file a counter affidavit, within 10 days, on the criteria for selecting beneficiaries of the 'Suvarna Bhoomi Yojane.' A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice K S Khehar and K G Ramesh on Thursday pulled up the Government for

Climate change threatening honey industry in Nagaland

KOHIMA, Jan 4: With an annual production of over 200 metric tons, beekeeping in Nagaland has become a lucrative business. Traditional beekeepers, with help and support from the Nagaland Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM), have developed beekeeping into a mini industry, producing one of the finest quality honey in the …

Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) clashes with honey bee

Apiculture has developed in to an important industry in India as honey and bee­wax have become common products. Recently a sharp decline in population of honey bees has been observed in Kerala. Although the bees are susceptible to diseases and attacked by natural enemies like wasps, ants and wax moth, …

What’s in your Honey?

Universally, honey is believed to be a natural product. Regulations across the world say as much. The Codex Alimentarius Commission is a global body set up jointly by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to develop food standards for international trade; it defines …

The study

OXYTETRACYCLINE Belonging to the common antibiotic class of Tetracyclines, this antibiotic is used by beekeepers against bacterial foul brood diseases. The BIS recommends it for the treatment of European foul brood disease. HEALTH IMPACTS: Chronic exposure to oxytetracycline or OTC can lead to bloodrelated disorders, liver injury and delayed blood …

The results

Multiple antibiotics in high amounts were found in 11 out of the 12 samples. All 11 samples failed the antibiotics standards set by the Indian government’s Export Inspection Council (EIC) for exported honey. The two imported honey samples were also highly contaminated with antibiotics. Both would have failed their own …

Bee farms to shops

The journey of honey from bee farms to breakfast tables has become complex with time. From wild honey gatherers, honey supply has passed into the hands of cooperatives of individual beekeepers and then to big companies. The cooperatives could have helped beekeepers demand better prices, but they did not last …

Chinese honey route

Of late, honey is being associated with shady dealings, crime, and and a thriving illegal trade spanning the globe. One may wonder why honey, a natural product, is shipped illegally. The reasons become clear if one considers the stringent food safety regulations in Western countries and questionable beekeeping practices in …

The battle for control of our bodies

They say you are what you eat. But do we know what we are eating? Do we know who is cooking and serving us the food we take to our kitchens and then into our bodies? The more I dig into this issue it becomes clear that our world of …

Whats in your Honey?

Ayurveda prescribes it for a range of ailments. People eat it for rejuvenation and boosting immunity. An Indian homemaker

Indian honey loaded with antibiotics

India's leading brands of honey contain high levels of antibiotics. A study conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has brought to light that banned antibiotics including chloramphenicol, broad spectrum ciproflaxacin and enthromycin are found across leading brands sold in the market. These include, CSE claims, such noted …

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