The popularity of honey bees in India is rising, as their colonies grow more and more, said Nandan Parikh, director general of the Centre for Biotechnology Research (CBR).
According to the CBR, in 2015, honey bees were listed as the most pollinated insect species in the world.
However, it is estimated that only 5 per cent of India’s honeybees survive to maturity, while the rest die in the wild.CBR’s Parikh said that there are two kinds of honey bee.
One is the one that is used for honey production, while another one is for honey storage.
These bees can produce up to 30,000 honeybee stings every hour and are valued at Rs 500 crore.
Honey bees have been used as a way of preserving the soil and improving soil quality, he said.
Parikh also mentioned that honey bees are not considered pests and there are no harmful effects on humans.
Hair is not considered to be a pest in the honeybee colony, but it can be harmful to bees in terms of the environment, and can lead to colony collapse.
“Honeybees are pollinators that take care of the soil, which is why they are being used in some of the poorest countries in the World,” Parikh told The Hindu.
He added that India should also promote honey bee colonies, which are a source of income for farmers.