Bees have been known to humans since ancient times as a small, useful and industrious insect. They are usually called 'social insects' because they live in groups. Bees pollinate flowers and increase the production of forest, fruit and agricultural crops. Beekeeping is the practice of bringing bees from their natural environment and keeping them in a modern and scientific way by creating a conducive environment for bees. The Holy Qur'an mentions bees in Surah An-Nahl 16: 7-89. They are medium in size and quiet, so they can be reared in boxes. They tie wheels in dark places like tree hooks, cracks in walls, cupboards, piles of bricks etc. The average honey production per wheel is about 4 kg each time. There are also hill and small bees, but they cannot be reared. A bee has three classes of bees, namely: (1) queen, (2) male and (3) worker bee. The queen bee is the largest in nature. There is only one queen bee on a wheel. Its only job is to lay eggs. Male bees are medium sized and have large eyes. But they do not have stings. Their only job is to meet the queen. Worker bees are the smallest. Their eyes are small, but they have holes. All members except the queen and the male are worker bees. They are divided into different groups and perform all the tasks of the wheel (such as making the wheel, collecting the sweet juice and pollen of the flower, making honey, controlling the temperature of the wheel, keeping the wheel clean and tidy, etc.). At present there are 4 species of bees in Bangladesh, both domestic and foreign. Apis Floria, Apis Dorsata, Apis Serena and Apis Melifera. European species Apis melifera bees are the quiet type. It is cultivated in Bangladesh. Bees usually need 2 million flowers to make 500 grams of honey.
Benefits of bee keeping
Helps in more crop production: Crop production can be increased through bee pollination. Beekeeping is now a modern technology for pollination. It is universally acknowledged that successful pollination by bees is possible. Bees carry numerous pollen flowers on their legs and chest hairs as they roam around. Pollination occurs when the pollen of one flower falls into the womb of another flower, resulting in fruit. The production of bee-pollinated crops increases by 10 to 15 per cent in different beekeeping seasons and the value of the extra crop produced is 10 to 15 per cent higher than the total honey and beeswax produced.
Role in cottage industry and elimination of unemployment: If bee keeping is taken as cottage industry, many unemployed people will get employment and increase income. Beekeeping in rural low-income families creates an additional income opportunity.
Helps to earn foreign exchange: According to a statistic, in 2014, 2.3 billion US dollars worth of honey was exported worldwide. The European Union is the largest exporter of honey, accounting for 37.3% of the total exports. Experts say that the honey of the Sundarbans is giving a chance to earn foreign currency. Demand for this specialty has grown significantly as a result of recent corporate scandals in many parts of the world. Apart from beekeepers who collect natural honey in the Sundarbans, the number of bee farmers trained by BSIC is currently around 9,000. These farmers produce an average of five thousand tons of honey a year. In the 2014-15 financial year, 550 metric tons of honey worth Tk 55 crore was exported from Bangladesh to India, UAE and other countries. It is increasing day by day.
Helps to achieve nutritional security: The country is now self-sufficient in food, but we still have something to do to achieve nutritional security. Honey can play a role in this. Although honey is a national food, it contains a variety of vitamins, enzymes and minerals. It is called the cure for all diseases.
Helps in the production of pure and quality honey: Honey is extracted by pressing the beehive as a general rule. As the extraction of honey from the hive is not completed, the honey contains beeswax, bee eggs, baby juice and other wastes. As the honey extracted mechanically from the hive is pure, so is the honey extracted completely.
Helps in bee production without destroying the hive: As a general rule, the hive is destroyed during honey collection. During this work a large number of bees also died in many cases. In addition, the eggs and babies in the wheel are destroyed. As a result, the number of bees is decreasing day by day.
The way to recognize pure honey
Honey contains about 45 nutrients. When pure honey is released in the form of a drop in a glass of water, it goes directly under the glass in the form of a drop. If you take a few drops of honey in a blotting paper, the honey will not be absorbed by the blotting paper. Adulterated honey moistens blotting paper.
483.302 SRY