Buzzworthy Punekars try their hand at beekeeping

Once restricted to some, beekeeping is now a mindful pursuit for many who seek connection with nature, a deeper understanding of patience, partnership, and an ecosystem. A recent beekeeping workshop near Khanapur along the Khadakwasla lake saw beekeeping enthusiasts, beginners and experienced, being taken through a range of topics crucial for successful and sustainable beekeeping.

Bigger purpose, and challengesInstructors emphasised the importance of beekeeping for wider ecological benefits, particularly through crop pollination and biodiversity, as well as a channel of income. The workshop highlighted the growing interest in beekeeping as a hobby and as a business. Harshada Deshmukh, a farmer and beekeeping trainer, who conducted the workshop, told us what made her start the workshops in the first place, “Understanding that until and unless we harm the bees, they won’t attack us, strengthened my interest in beekeeping.

There’s a lack of awareness on beekeeping, so I thought, why not start a workshop? There were challenges like bees attacking during the workshops, but bee lovers and farmers from urban areas showed interest, and so did college students. The percentage of serious beekeepers is currently low across India.”

The agenda*To learn about the social structure and life cycle of honey bee colonies, including the roles of the queen, drones, and worker bees*To learn about practical skills, like inspecting a hive, identifying common pests and diseases*To learn about performing seasonal management tasks to ensure a healthy colony, and saving honey beesLargest pollinating agentAbout 80 per cent of pollination happens through bees, and the remaining through wind and other insects.

“Bees also provide various products like honey, beeswax, and propolis, which have uses in food, medicine, and other industries,” says Salil Bhagwat, who trains people in beekeeping. Experts say that there are almost 350 plant species and fruits that we depend on, and bees play a major role in ensuring they propagate.

“There are five types of honey bees in India. In Maharashtra, there’s majorly Cerana Indica. PanIndia, there’s Apis Mellifera that produces honey. The other three types include the stingless Trigona, Florea, and Dorsata,” says Harish Deshmukh, beekeeper.