Apiculture
CREDIT DISTRIBUTION, ELIGIBILITY AND PRE-REQUISITES OF THE COURSE
Course title Credits Credit distribution of the course Eligibility Pre-requisite of
& Lecture Tutorial Practical/ criteria the course
Code Practice (if any)
Apiculture 2 0 0 2 Class XII NA
Learning Objectives
The Learning Objectives of this course are as follows:
To help the student to become familiar with the significance of beekeeping as an economically
viable industry.
To help the student to understand the different species of honeybees, their biology, behaviour and
role in pollination.
To train the students to learn the techniques of honey bee rearing, optimization of techniques based
on climate and geographical regions, and various measures to be taken to maximize the benefits.
To understand the significance of beekeeping in the diversification of agriculture for the rural
communities to increase their income and create employment opportunities and at the same time to
develop entrepreneurial skills required for self-employment in the beekeeping sector.
Learning Outcomes
After studying this course, the students will be able to:
Comprehend the various species of honey bees in India, their social organization and its importance.
Appreciate the opportunities and employment in apiculture in public, private and government
sector.
Gain thorough knowledge about the techniques involved in bee keeping and honey production.
Make various products and by-products obtained from beekeeping sector and their importance.
Develop entrepreneurial skills necessary for self-employment in beekeeping sector.
Enhance collaborative learning and communication skills through practical sessions, teamwork,
group discussions, assignments and projects.
Skill development and job opportunities
After completion of this course students would obtain the training in collection, identification, and
various ways/aspects of bee rearing.
The students can also take a job as an apiary worker, often called a beekeeper, manage colonies of
honeybees for the production of honey as well as pollination services.
The course would also provide a basic training to enable the students to construct hives and replace
combs.
Enhance entrepreneurial skills by collecting and packaging hive products including honey, beeswax and
pollen.
Make decisions on yards, treatment, splits, honey harvesting and all other beekeeping decisions.
Identify and report hive health concerns.
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SYLLABUS (Practical)
Unit 1: Biology of Bees 16 hours
Historical background of apiculture, classification and biology of honey bees, Social organization of bee
colony, behavioral patterns (bee dance, swarming).
Practical Exercises:
1. Study of the life history of honey bees: Apiscerana indica, Apis mellifera, Apis dorsata, Apis florea,
Melipona sp. from specimen/ photographs - Egg, larva, pupa, adult (queen, drone, worker).
2. Study of morphological structures of honey bees through permanent slides/photographs mouthparts,
antenna, wings, sting apparatus and temporary mount of legs (antenna cleaner, mid leg, pollen basket).
3. Study of natural beehive and identification of queen cells, drone cells and brood.
Unit 2: Rearing of Bees 18 hours
Artificial Bee rearing (Apiary), Beehives Newton and Langstroth; Bee Pasturage; Selection of bee species
for apiculture Apiscerana indica, Apis mellifera; Bee keeping equipment methods of extraction of honey
(Indigenous and Modern) & processing; Apiary management - Honey flow period and lean period, effects
of pollutants on honeybees.
Practical Exercises:
1. Distinguishing characters of workers of three bee species.
2. Importance of site selection for bee keeping.
3. Study of an artificial hive (Langstroth/Newton), its various parts and beekeeping equipment: draw
diagrams of bee boxes proportionate to the body size and measure the body length and wing size.
4. Preparation of mount of pollen grains from flowers.
Unit 3: Diseases and Enemies 10 hours
Bee diseases control and preventive measures: enemies of bees and their control.
Practical Exercises:
1. Diagnosis of honeybee diseases: Protozoan diseases, Bacterial diseases, Viral diseases (one each)-
symptoms, nature of damage and control.
2. Identification of honeybee enemies: Predators-Insects and non-insects.
Unit 4: Bee Economy 8 hours
Products of apiculture industry (Honey, Bees Wax, Propolis, Royal jelly, Pollen etc.) and their uses;
Modern methods in employing artificial Beehives for cross pollination in horticultural gardens- stationary
and migratory bee keeping.
Practical Exercises:
1. Video demonstration of wax extraction and preparation of comb foundation sheets.
2. Analysis of honey purity, physical and biochemical parameters (any two constituents).
3. Study of bee pasturage visit to fields/gardens/orchards for studying the bee activity (role in pollination,
nectar collection, videography of honeybee activity) and preparation of herbarium of nectar and pollen
yielding flowering plants (floral mapping).
Unit 5: Entrepreneurship in Apiculture 8 hours
Bee keeping industries Recent advancements, employment opportunities, economics in small and large-
scale beekeeping, scope for women entrepreneurs in beekeeping sector, study of development programs and
organizations involved in beekeeping in India.
Exercise:
1. Visit to an apiary/honey processing unit/institute and submission of a report.
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Essential/Recommended readings
Singh, S. (1962). Beekeeping in India, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi.
Mishra, R.C. (1995). Honeybees and their management in India. Indian Council of Agricultural Research,
New Delhi.
Prost, P. J. (1962). Apiculture. Oxford and IBH, New Delhi.
Rahman, A. (2017). Beekeeping in India. Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi.
Gupta, J.K. (2016). Apiculture, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi.
Examination scheme and mode:
Evaluation scheme and mode will be as per the guidelines notified by the University of Delhi.
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