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Apiculture (Beekeeping), an Easy Economic Venture Irrespective of Age, Gender, Religion and Profession

Received: 21 July 2021    Accepted: 2 August 2021    Published: 9 August 2021
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Abstract

Apiculture is an agroforestry system that has been neglected at the background in tropical Africa and Nigeria in particular. This is due to lack of awareness on the production know-how and the financial gains associated to it. The objective of this paper therefore, is to review apicultural techniques and its economic benefits. Apiculture is one of the most booming lucrative enterprises in many parts of the world. It is a profitable venture that requires little or no investment with quick returns. It is the science of raising bees in order to harvest honey and other useful products such as propolis, beeswax, pollen and royal jelly (bee milk). Honey and wax are usually used as medicine, health food and traditional crafts (candle making). In the traditional setting, honey is usually harvested from the wild which is always crude, difficult, dangerous and unsustainable. There is high demand for honey in Africa and the world at large but the production is low and not being encouraged. However, apiculture has gradually become a major component of mini-livestock production in Africa and other parts of the world. It has relatively reduced honey hunting and is seen as an alternative business for employment and revenue generation. Beekeeping can be practiced by all irrespective of age, gender, religion and profession with no negative environmental impact. Government and well to do individuals in the society should assist interested beekeepers with soft loans to purchase modern equipment like movable frame hives, bee suits, smokers and honey extractors. Apiculture should be enshrined in the curriculum of the primary and secondary schools, institution of higher learning and adopted as part of rural development approach. It should be promoted by well-organized extension services. Improving beekeeping in Africa will be a good way to ensure food security, reduce joblessness and add income across the economies of the continent. Efforts should also be made by Export Commissions to showcase African honey in the world market.

Published in International Journal of Applied Agricultural Sciences (Volume 7, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijaas.20210704.15
Page(s) 169-176
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Apiculture, Easy Alternative Income, Tropical Africa

References
[1] Ajao, A. M., & Oladimeji, Y. U. (2013). Assessment of Contribution of Apicultural Practices to Household Income and Poverty Alleviation in Kwara State, Nigeria. International Journal of Science and Nature, 4 (4), 687-698.
[2] Animene, C. P (2007). In: Adedeji. K, N and Omoba, O. J (2016). An assessment of profitability of honey production in Edo State, Nigeria. Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension Services, Joseph Ayo Babalola University Ikeji, Arakeji P. M. B 506. Ilesa Osun S tate, Nigeria.
[3] Goulson D. (2003). Effects of Introduced Bees on Natural Ecosystem. Annual Reviews of Ecology and Evolution System 34, 1-26 print.
[4] Imoru, A., & Babadipe, S. S. (2019). Minilivestock - The Invaluable Underutilised Genetic Species for Enhanced Protein Availability. African Journal of Agriculture and Food Science, 2 (2), 27-32.
[5] Labe, T. E. (2017). Prospects and Challenges of Apiculture Business in Nigeria: A Review. Journal of Research in Forestry, Wildlife & Environment, 9 (2), 83-91.
[6] Mattheus, S. (2019). Exploring the Business Opportunities of Beekeeping in Nigeria.
[7] Moniruzzaman, M., & Rahman, M. S (2009). Prospects of beekeeping in Bangladesh. Department of Cooperation & Marketing, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh.
[8] MyFarmbase Africa. Africa's Foremost AgricTech Organization. Pp. 1-13.
[9] Ojo, S. O. (2004). Improving Labour Productivity and Technical Efficiency in Food Crop Production. A Panacea for Poverty Reduction in Nigeria. Food Agriculture and Environment, 2 (2), 227-231.
[10] Olawunmi, O. (2020). Mercee Farms Honey. Osun State, Nigeria. Pp. 1-11.
[11] Seeley, T. D. (2010). Honey Bee Democracy. Princeton: Princeton up Print.
[12] Steve O. C. (2017). Beekeeping In Nigeria; 7 steps to start & make good money (+ Practical training). Africans Business Classroom Since 2007, Pp. 1–20.
[13] Nurul I., Sok, W., Isa, M., Norazlina, M., Kok-Yong, C., Soelaiman, I. N., & Ahmad, S. (2018). "Wound Healing Properties of Selected Natural Products", International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
[14] Mbah, S. O. (2012). Profitability of Honey Production Enterprise in Umuahia Agricultural Zone of Abia State, Nigeria. International Journal of Agricultural and Rural Development, 15 (3), 1274-1212.
[15] Akinwande, L. Badejo, A., & Ogbogu, S. (2011). Challenges Associated with the Honey Bee Colonies Establishment in South Western Nigeria, African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development, 13 (2), 23-33.
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  • APA Style

    Kubkomawa Hayatu Ibrahim, Mohammed Abubakar Sadiq Abba, Kenneth-Chukwu Oluchi Margret, Iyiola Vivian Ogechi, Anyanwu Vivian Chinenye. (2021). Apiculture (Beekeeping), an Easy Economic Venture Irrespective of Age, Gender, Religion and Profession. International Journal of Applied Agricultural Sciences, 7(4), 169-176. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijaas.20210704.15

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    ACS Style

    Kubkomawa Hayatu Ibrahim; Mohammed Abubakar Sadiq Abba; Kenneth-Chukwu Oluchi Margret; Iyiola Vivian Ogechi; Anyanwu Vivian Chinenye. Apiculture (Beekeeping), an Easy Economic Venture Irrespective of Age, Gender, Religion and Profession. Int. J. Appl. Agric. Sci. 2021, 7(4), 169-176. doi: 10.11648/j.ijaas.20210704.15

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    AMA Style

    Kubkomawa Hayatu Ibrahim, Mohammed Abubakar Sadiq Abba, Kenneth-Chukwu Oluchi Margret, Iyiola Vivian Ogechi, Anyanwu Vivian Chinenye. Apiculture (Beekeeping), an Easy Economic Venture Irrespective of Age, Gender, Religion and Profession. Int J Appl Agric Sci. 2021;7(4):169-176. doi: 10.11648/j.ijaas.20210704.15

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijaas.20210704.15,
      author = {Kubkomawa Hayatu Ibrahim and Mohammed Abubakar Sadiq Abba and Kenneth-Chukwu Oluchi Margret and Iyiola Vivian Ogechi and Anyanwu Vivian Chinenye},
      title = {Apiculture (Beekeeping), an Easy Economic Venture Irrespective of Age, Gender, Religion and Profession},
      journal = {International Journal of Applied Agricultural Sciences},
      volume = {7},
      number = {4},
      pages = {169-176},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijaas.20210704.15},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijaas.20210704.15},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijaas.20210704.15},
      abstract = {Apiculture is an agroforestry system that has been neglected at the background in tropical Africa and Nigeria in particular. This is due to lack of awareness on the production know-how and the financial gains associated to it. The objective of this paper therefore, is to review apicultural techniques and its economic benefits. Apiculture is one of the most booming lucrative enterprises in many parts of the world. It is a profitable venture that requires little or no investment with quick returns. It is the science of raising bees in order to harvest honey and other useful products such as propolis, beeswax, pollen and royal jelly (bee milk). Honey and wax are usually used as medicine, health food and traditional crafts (candle making). In the traditional setting, honey is usually harvested from the wild which is always crude, difficult, dangerous and unsustainable. There is high demand for honey in Africa and the world at large but the production is low and not being encouraged. However, apiculture has gradually become a major component of mini-livestock production in Africa and other parts of the world. It has relatively reduced honey hunting and is seen as an alternative business for employment and revenue generation. Beekeeping can be practiced by all irrespective of age, gender, religion and profession with no negative environmental impact. Government and well to do individuals in the society should assist interested beekeepers with soft loans to purchase modern equipment like movable frame hives, bee suits, smokers and honey extractors. Apiculture should be enshrined in the curriculum of the primary and secondary schools, institution of higher learning and adopted as part of rural development approach. It should be promoted by well-organized extension services. Improving beekeeping in Africa will be a good way to ensure food security, reduce joblessness and add income across the economies of the continent. Efforts should also be made by Export Commissions to showcase African honey in the world market.},
     year = {2021}
    }
    

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    T1  - Apiculture (Beekeeping), an Easy Economic Venture Irrespective of Age, Gender, Religion and Profession
    AU  - Kubkomawa Hayatu Ibrahim
    AU  - Mohammed Abubakar Sadiq Abba
    AU  - Kenneth-Chukwu Oluchi Margret
    AU  - Iyiola Vivian Ogechi
    AU  - Anyanwu Vivian Chinenye
    Y1  - 2021/08/09
    PY  - 2021
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijaas.20210704.15
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijaas.20210704.15
    T2  - International Journal of Applied Agricultural Sciences
    JF  - International Journal of Applied Agricultural Sciences
    JO  - International Journal of Applied Agricultural Sciences
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    EP  - 176
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2469-7885
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijaas.20210704.15
    AB  - Apiculture is an agroforestry system that has been neglected at the background in tropical Africa and Nigeria in particular. This is due to lack of awareness on the production know-how and the financial gains associated to it. The objective of this paper therefore, is to review apicultural techniques and its economic benefits. Apiculture is one of the most booming lucrative enterprises in many parts of the world. It is a profitable venture that requires little or no investment with quick returns. It is the science of raising bees in order to harvest honey and other useful products such as propolis, beeswax, pollen and royal jelly (bee milk). Honey and wax are usually used as medicine, health food and traditional crafts (candle making). In the traditional setting, honey is usually harvested from the wild which is always crude, difficult, dangerous and unsustainable. There is high demand for honey in Africa and the world at large but the production is low and not being encouraged. However, apiculture has gradually become a major component of mini-livestock production in Africa and other parts of the world. It has relatively reduced honey hunting and is seen as an alternative business for employment and revenue generation. Beekeeping can be practiced by all irrespective of age, gender, religion and profession with no negative environmental impact. Government and well to do individuals in the society should assist interested beekeepers with soft loans to purchase modern equipment like movable frame hives, bee suits, smokers and honey extractors. Apiculture should be enshrined in the curriculum of the primary and secondary schools, institution of higher learning and adopted as part of rural development approach. It should be promoted by well-organized extension services. Improving beekeeping in Africa will be a good way to ensure food security, reduce joblessness and add income across the economies of the continent. Efforts should also be made by Export Commissions to showcase African honey in the world market.
    VL  - 7
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Fisheries Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, Nigeria

  • Department of Fisheries Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, Nigeria

  • Department of Veterinary Biochemistry and Animal Production, College of Veterinary Medicine, Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria

  • Department of Animal Production and Health, Federal University, Wukari, Nigeria

  • Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria

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