Q.What is apiculture? How is it important in our lives?

Apiculture (bee-keeping or bee-farming) is the practice of maintaining hives of honey bees for the commercial production of honey and beeswax. In India, species such as Apis indica (the common Indian bee) are widely kept, along with the introduced Apis mellifera, which has been found to give a higher yield of honey.

Importance of apiculture in our lives:

• Honey production: Honey is a nutritious food, rich in sugars and used widely in households; it is also used in traditional medicine and various food/pharmaceutical products, making it commercially important.
• Beeswax: Beeswax obtained from the hives is used in the cosmetic industry and in the manufacture of various polishes and other products.
• Low-investment livelihood: Bee-keeping requires little investment and can be undertaken even in field/orchard areas, making it a good subsidiary/income-generating occupation, particularly for small and marginal farmers and rural households. …

Define apiculture in one line, then list its importance under separate points: honey (nutrition/commerce), beeswax (industrial use), livelihood (low-in …

• Describing apiculture only as 'honey production' and missing beeswax and, especially, the pollination benefit to surrounding crops.
• Forgetting to mention it as a low-investment, income-generating occupation for rural households. …