Apiculture and honey crops as a diversification of income and crops in small farms

Authors: Paweł Radzikowski, Jarosław Stalenga, Bence Trugly, Callum Bennett

Problem: There is a high demand for high-quality honey and other bee products in the EU. Large quantities of honey are imported from outside the EU whose quality and origin can be questionable. There are countries in the EU with a diverse agricultural structure favourable for beekeeping, particularly in Poland and Romania, but also in Mediterranean countries. Now, small farms in these regions are often not able to achieve a satisfactory economic income or implement agricultural innovations. Indeed, despite the large potential for diversification, farmers are often growing only a few basic species of crops. Finally, to face the aging of farmer population, there is a need to innovate in proposing some activities with lower workload.

Solution: The introduction of apiculture and the necessary honey crops has the potential to increase farm income and significantly diversify crops. For this purpose, the following changes will be required:

• Training in beekeeping and investment in equipment,
• The purchasing of bee colonies, the number of which may vary depending on the economic profitability of beekeeping in the region. In Poland, production from 150 hives allows for the equivalent of an average annual income, but even 5-10 hives can bring significant additional income.
• The introduction of several hectares of honey crops, preferably grown organically. It is recommended to introduce a least 1 ha of honey crops for every 5-10 bee colonies.

zenodo.org: Apiculture and honey crops as a diversification of income and crops in small farms