‘Killing two birds with one stone’, that’s exactly what the Beekeepers in Mumbai plan to do. Bee Farming is the practice of raising bees in hives for the production of honey, beeswax and other products. Bee farmers manage colonies of bees by providing them with suitable hives and monitoring their health and behaviour.
Jason Jacob, Mumbai’s one of few Bee-keepers, has produced half a ton of honey over the last 20 years. Today Jacob has provided almost 80 bee colonies to various housing societies and farms in and around Mumbai. Jacob hopes to provide a sustainable habitat for Indian honeybees and prolong their lifespan. His farm comprises 10 bee colonies with more than 10,000 bees in each. During this time 10 colonies produce 25kg of honey, which Jacob shares with his family and tribal village at Aarey, which helps him earn a decent amount.
Farms and housing societies in Vile-Parle, Chikuwadi, Thane, Panvel and areas as far as Pune have bought these boxes which cost Rs. 4,500 each. Jacob also sells individual frames with honeycomb for Rs 300 and a kilo of honey for Rs 400.
Jacob represents a few of many bee farmers of Mumbai who have earned by harvesting honey from hives and selling it to consumers or using it in other products like cosmetics. Not only honey but they are also used for beeswax which is used for candles, cosmetics and other products.
