Post by Ismail AbdulAzeez on May 7, 2017 17:51:17 GMT 1
Bee keeping is a worthwhile, profitable and interesting practice that can easily be adopted by man because of its numerous benefits and advantages, which include the following:
Pollination
The greatest value of bee keeping lies in the fact that bees pollinate agricultural and horticultural plants. When a bee has found the flowers of certain kind of plant she will encourage her hive-mates to use this source. The bees will visit these flowers as long as food (pollen and nectar) is available. This flower expectancy makes bees exceptionally valuable to plants which need to be cross-pollinated. If there are enough bee colonies in the area at the flowering time the plants will give a higher yields and the quality of fruits will also be improved.
Easy Acquisition of Involved Skill
The fundamental skill involved in bee keeping is easy to acquire.
Employment Opportunities
Bee keeping generates a lot of employment opportunities.
Suitable Food
Honey consists mostly of sugars that are readily absorbed by the body. It is therefore an extremely suitable food for children, sick people and those who perform manual labor.
Imported and Expensive Materials
Bee keeping does not need imported and expensive materials. Hives can be constructed
locally and cheaply too. Bees can be stocked at no cost.
No Competition with Other Crops and Livestock
Bee keeping does not compete with any other agricultural crops and livestock. This is because it is only the bees that collect and utilize the resources of nectar and pollen that they thrive on.
Bee Wax
Bee wax which is the by-product of beekeeping practice is used in the manufacture of cosmetics, candles, foundation sheets (for hives), medicines, polishes etc. And there is a good and stable market for bees wax.
Food Supply by the Beekeeper:
Bees do not primarily depend on the food supply provided by the keeper especially where the keeper does not over exploit them during the harvest
period. Bees collect their food requirements - nectar, pollen, propolis and water themselves as long as they have freedom.
Neither Age nor Gender Specific:
It can be practiced by males and females of all age groups.
Pollen Production
With a simple trap at the flight entrance of the hive, you can harvest the pollen collected by the bees. Bees gather an average of 100 to 200g per colony per day; 30 to 50kg per year. However you should collect a part of this pollen accumulation so that you do not seriously inhibit the development of the colony.
Little Land Space Requirement
Bee - keeping do not require extensive land space thus making it possible for peasant, landless, rural dweller to also practice it.
Propolis
Propolis is a resin that bees collect from plants and they use it to close small holes or clefts in the hive wall. The market trend for propolis is increasing and it has some therapeutic and antibiotic characteristics.
Good for Part Time Job
Bee keeping can also be practiced as a part time job or hobby since one does not need to attend to the bees daily.
Many Uses of Honey
Honey is used for a variety of things-as drugs and in medicines such as expectorants, as beverage and sweeteners for those who abstain from sugar consumption. It is used to preserve the living and the dead, eaten in various forms by the living and used to embalm the dead.
Unlimited Market
There is unlimited market within the country and abroad for processed honey.
Ideal Conditions
In Nigeria, we have the most ideal conditions for bee keeping either as hobby or as commercial venture. There are abundant flowers, fantastic weather, two high seasons (when you can harvest honey) and Nigeria is free from every known malady of bee keeping worldwide.
Money Spinner
The African honeybee is a potentially money spinner. Apiary or beekeeping is cost effective, less demanding of land space and time. It is adaptable to our local environment. An investor could start with #60,000 with the possibility of earning about #3million annually.
Pollination
The greatest value of bee keeping lies in the fact that bees pollinate agricultural and horticultural plants. When a bee has found the flowers of certain kind of plant she will encourage her hive-mates to use this source. The bees will visit these flowers as long as food (pollen and nectar) is available. This flower expectancy makes bees exceptionally valuable to plants which need to be cross-pollinated. If there are enough bee colonies in the area at the flowering time the plants will give a higher yields and the quality of fruits will also be improved.
Easy Acquisition of Involved Skill
The fundamental skill involved in bee keeping is easy to acquire.
Employment Opportunities
Bee keeping generates a lot of employment opportunities.
Suitable Food
Honey consists mostly of sugars that are readily absorbed by the body. It is therefore an extremely suitable food for children, sick people and those who perform manual labor.
Imported and Expensive Materials
Bee keeping does not need imported and expensive materials. Hives can be constructed
locally and cheaply too. Bees can be stocked at no cost.
No Competition with Other Crops and Livestock
Bee keeping does not compete with any other agricultural crops and livestock. This is because it is only the bees that collect and utilize the resources of nectar and pollen that they thrive on.
Bee Wax
Bee wax which is the by-product of beekeeping practice is used in the manufacture of cosmetics, candles, foundation sheets (for hives), medicines, polishes etc. And there is a good and stable market for bees wax.
Food Supply by the Beekeeper:
Bees do not primarily depend on the food supply provided by the keeper especially where the keeper does not over exploit them during the harvest
period. Bees collect their food requirements - nectar, pollen, propolis and water themselves as long as they have freedom.
Neither Age nor Gender Specific:
It can be practiced by males and females of all age groups.
Pollen Production
With a simple trap at the flight entrance of the hive, you can harvest the pollen collected by the bees. Bees gather an average of 100 to 200g per colony per day; 30 to 50kg per year. However you should collect a part of this pollen accumulation so that you do not seriously inhibit the development of the colony.
Little Land Space Requirement
Bee - keeping do not require extensive land space thus making it possible for peasant, landless, rural dweller to also practice it.
Propolis
Propolis is a resin that bees collect from plants and they use it to close small holes or clefts in the hive wall. The market trend for propolis is increasing and it has some therapeutic and antibiotic characteristics.
Good for Part Time Job
Bee keeping can also be practiced as a part time job or hobby since one does not need to attend to the bees daily.
Many Uses of Honey
Honey is used for a variety of things-as drugs and in medicines such as expectorants, as beverage and sweeteners for those who abstain from sugar consumption. It is used to preserve the living and the dead, eaten in various forms by the living and used to embalm the dead.
Unlimited Market
There is unlimited market within the country and abroad for processed honey.
Ideal Conditions
In Nigeria, we have the most ideal conditions for bee keeping either as hobby or as commercial venture. There are abundant flowers, fantastic weather, two high seasons (when you can harvest honey) and Nigeria is free from every known malady of bee keeping worldwide.
Money Spinner
The African honeybee is a potentially money spinner. Apiary or beekeeping is cost effective, less demanding of land space and time. It is adaptable to our local environment. An investor could start with #60,000 with the possibility of earning about #3million annually.