Constraints and Prospects of Apiculture at Malakand and Selected Areas of Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to identify the number of honey bee colonies, species of honey bees, threats to the colonies, flora availability and average honey productivity from each colony in the bee farm located in District Dir, Malakand, Swat and selected areas of Punjab during 2018-2019. A survey was conducted through questionnaires and dialogues with the beekeepers and residents in the study area. The actual bee hives were also visited to see the bee hives and associated constraints and prospects. Maximum honey production was recorded in Chakwal (45Kg/colony per annum) followed by Talagang (20Kg/colony per annum) while in District Dir, Malakand and Swat, the annual honey production was recorded almost uniform during the study period with average production of 10 Kg/colony per annum. Common flora for nectar production in the study area included Ziziphus jujuba, Acacia modesta and Eucalyptus lanceolata. Common honey bee fauna included A. melliffera and A. cerana. Major threats for the decline of honey bee fauna included impacts of climate change, predation by other insects, pollution, scarcity of flora, pesticides, American foulbrood and chalk brood diseases and varroa mites’ infestations. High and unpredicted rain fall also disturbed management of honey bees in the study area. The study area has great potential of honey production. It has been concluded that honey production can be enhanced with scientific approach and the use of modern technology for beekeeping associated with mitigation of the threats that causes decline of honey bee fauna.