Beekeeping and Rural Development

Beekeeping can play an important role in rural development activities, both directly by providing products for household consumption and income from sale of honey and other bee products, and indirectly as an important source of pollinators to improve productivity especially of horticultural crops. This generously illustrated booklet describes some of the benefits of beekeeping, especially for the rural poor and marginalised groups in the extended Himalayan region. It also discusses beekeeping's contribution to resource and biodiversity conservation, and looks briefly at the challenges involved in marketing and the need to follow a market chain approach to ensure that beekeepers benefit fully from their products. Beekeeping can contribute effectively to the empowerment of disadvantaged people and communities, and makes a multifaceted contribution to rural livelihoods. The booklet closes with recommended approaches to be incorporated in future rural development strategies.