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Apiculture resource biodiversity and management in Southern Kerala

Shodhganga@INFLIBNET

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Title Apiculture resource biodiversity and management in Southern Kerala
 
Contributor Nair, P K K
 
Description Apiculture is a science-based industry using bees as
micromanipulators to harvest n~ectar and pollen from plant sources to
produce honey. Even though most plants in an ecosystem produce nectar
and pollen, all of them do not contribute to the honey resource. From the
ambient vegetation, the bees identify plants for nectar and pollen and collect
them for the sustenance of their colonial life. Moreover, these resource
preferences are distinct in natural and domesticated habitats.
Although we get a substantial amount of honey from Apis dorsata the
wild bee, proper beekeeping demands systematic utilization of resources
through domesticated bees. It is therefore imperative that knowledge of the
bee ecosystem and its ramifications is an essential pre-requisite in apiary
management and product development.
In spite of the beekeeping potential in the country, apiculture has
continued to remain a minor cottage industry. This is because of the poor
scientific support and organizational infrastructure provided to this industry.
In India, Kerala is the State that produces the largest quantity of honey. But
the quality is inferior and this has reduced the price of Kerala honey in the
Indian market, due perhaps to the dependence on Rubber (Hevea
braziliensis) as the honey source, producing nectar from the extra floral
nectaries in the leaf, while the Coconut tree offers pollen. In terms of higher
market price and honey quality, the flower sources and forest ecosystems
are the most suitable.
Bibliography and appendices are included
 
Date 2010-08-13T04:45:26Z
2010-08-13T04:45:26Z
2010-08-13
February 2003
 
Type Ph.D.
 
Identifier http://hdl.handle.net/10603/612
 
Language English US
 
Rights university
 
Format 186p.
DVD
 
Publisher Kottayam
Mahatma Gandhi University
Environmental Resources Research Centre (ERRC)
 
Source INFLIBNET