Department of Entomology, Bihar Agricultural College, Sabour Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur813210, Bihar, India
*Email: entoramanuj@gmail.com (corresponding author)
This study on the bee keepers’ socio demographic attributes covered 30 beekeepers growing 7298 bee colonies of Apis mellifera L., hailing from different zones of Bihar. This used a structured questionnaire to know the attributes and trends. The results revealed that beekeeping is mostly practiced by married males, and >53% are aged between 31 to 40 years. About more than two-fifths of beekeepers (43%) had a family size of >5 members, and > three-fifths of the beekeepers (63%) are educated to intermediate level, and about 90% are accomplished with training on beekeeping. More than two-thirds (67%) of them were solely involved in beekeeping activity; and about one-third (33%) possess experience of 16 to 20 years, while other 30% had 6 to 10 years' experience. A total of fourth-fifths (80%) have managed without any kind of financial support. The annual expenditure on/ and income from beekeeping of three-fifths of beekeepers (60%) varied from Rs. 1 to 5 lakh. More than two-fifths beekeepers (43%) held bee colonies between 101 to 200.
Beekeeping, Bihar, Sociodemographic attributes, Beekeepers, Gender, Family size, Sole/other activity, Training, Number of colonies, Financial support, Income and expenditure
