Beekeeping in Pakistan – history, potential and current status

Khalid Ali Khan, Assistant Professor of Apiculture/Entomology, Unit of Bee Research & Honey Production, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia

Pakistan is in South Asia and ranks as the world’s sixth most populous country. It has a diverse landscape characterised by the high mountain ranges, picturesque valleys, desolate plateaus, the Indus basin, sandy deserts, sandy beaches, blue pools, and the mangrove forests along the Arabian Sea, each landscape characterised by its own vegetation.

The topography of Pakistan has diverse climates, most of the areas receive adequate rainfall in Kharif and Rabi seasons which boost the vegetative growth and enhance the flowering of numerous plant species which are rich sources of nectar and pollen for bees.

Most beekeeping practices are focused in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and central and north regions of Punjab but are growing rapidly. Beekeeping in Pakistan is not exploiting the full potential of bee forage plants found in forest cover and agricultural land including linear plantations, and rangelands. The bee flora present in the country can support up to 3.5 million bee colonies (Khan et al 2014).

Pakistan and all provinces

Beekeeping practices

Pakistan is blessed with a wealth of naturally occurring flora and fauna including three species of indigenous honey bees: the Asian hive honey bee Apis cerana, the dwarf honey bee Apis florea, and the rock honey bee Apis dorsata. Apis andreniformis and Apis laboriosa are almost certainly present and awaiting identification.

Pakistan lies at the western end of the Asian honey bees’ range: the further dispersal of these bees is prohibited by the arid regions of Afghanistan. Apis florea is most likely due to the introduction by humans rather than natural spread. The natural arid barrier has prevented Apis mellifera (which dispersed out of Africa) and the Asian honey bees from mixing. Over evolutionary time different pests and pathogens associated with Asian honey bee species and Apis mellifera have arisen separately. Currently there are an estimated 10,000 beekeepers in Pakistan managing 600,000 Apis mellifera colonies who harvest more than 12,000 tonnes of honey annually.

The full potential of bee forage in Pakistan has yet to be determined

(Image courtesy of https://www.shughal.com/the-10-most-stunning-lakes-of-pakistan/)

In Pakistan an estimated 10,000 beekeepers harvest over 12,000 tonnes of honey each year

(Image courtesy Ahsan Khalil via https://www.pinterest.com/pin/300544975105555141/)

A survey of beekeepers and honey hunters revealed that approximately 60, 70 and 10 tonnes of honey were harvested from Apis cerana, Aps dorsata and Apis florea colonies per annum respectively. Most of the honey is used for personal consumption or sold locally. Honey produced in Pakistan enjoys a good reputation in the Middle East due to its unique taste and quality. Pakistan exports about 4,000 tonnes of honey to Arab countries every year (worth US$23, €21 million)

Introduction of Apis mellifera

Apis mellifera colonies were first introduced to the subcontinent by Sir Louis Dane in 1908, but these colonies soon died due to excessive rains and lack of expertise.

After several further failed introductions between 1988-1992, the Pakistan-German honey bee promotion programme for training in honey bee colony management and mite control measures was introduced. Mite infestation was one of the problems that caused the failure of previous introductions of Apis mellifera colonies. More recently the promotion of sustainable beekeeping and training in mite management is being carried out by Honeybee Research Institute (HBRI) of NARC, Agricultural Research Institute, Tarnab Peshawar, and Beekeeping Research Station, Rawalpindi. In the past few years, the numbers of Apis mellifera colonies have grown through queen rearing and colony multiplication from 10s of colonies to 100s of colonies that have been distributed to beekeepers, government, and research institutes by HBRI. These colonies have spread across a wide region of central Pakistan which is the most suitable for beekeeping.

Pests and problems

Prior to the large influx of Apis mellifera colonies, beekeepers in the mountainous regions were maintaining Apis cerana colonies as their main source of honey production, in addition to honey hunters who were harvesting Apis dorsata colonies from trees and collecting Apis florea honey. Between 1980 and 1983 almost all the Apis cerana colonies were killed by an epidemic of what is believed to be tracheal mite (but other diseases cannot be ruled out). It is likely that the underlying cause was the transfer of diseases from Apis mellifera to Apis cerana since colonies of both species were kept in close proximity. A similar situation also occurred in India when the Apis cerana population was devastated by what is thought to be an epidemic of sacbrood contracted from imported Apis mellifera colonies. Soon after the import of Apis mellifera colonies, high yields of honey (40-50 kg per colony per annum) were recorded. But in 1981 beekeepers started to report problems associated with the ectoparasite honey bee mite Tropilaelaps clareae. This mite has a similar life-history to the Varroa mite in that it reproduces within the honey bees’ sealed brood cells. It is about half the size of Varroa, has a long and thin body shape and its natural host is Apis dorsata. However, there is less information about its biology, and it is unable to survive without brood. Perhaps it has a second unknown non-honey bee host on which it survives during the period when Apis dorsata is migrating? However, it has been able to successfully exploit Apis mellifera as a new host where it is believed to have caused up to 50% of colony losses in India, and decimated colonies in Afghanistan, causing an estimated 95% of colony losses in just three years. Therefore, it is a serious pest and beekeepers endeavour to control mite numbers by creating broodless periods or using acaracides. To add to their problems Varroa destructor was reported in 2002 (when already widely spread throughout Apis mellifera colonies). The presence of these two ectoparasitic mites is estimated to have reduced honey production by up to 50% as beekeepers learn how to manage them.

Currently, beekeepers use flumethrin and fluvalinate strips imported from China - it is unclear if resistance has yet appeared. Formic acid is also used and trials using oxalic acid at NARC have confirmed that under local conditions it is effective. In addition, problems faced by beekeepers include American Foulbrood, chalkbrood and pesticides used by farmers that have increased almost ten-fold during the last ten years.

A bright future

Despite the difficulties, the future of beekeeping in Pakistan looks bright with the harvesting of high quality honey of different flora including Acacia sp, Brassica sp, Citrus sp, clover (Melilotus officinalis), Eucalyptus sp , garranda/currant bush (Carissa opaca), kalongi (Nigella sativa), loquat (Eriobotrya japonica), mosquite (Prosopis juliflora), Robinia pseudoacacia, shain, sheesham (Dalbergia sissoo), sunflower (Helianthus annuus), Ziziphus sp, and many more in various ecological areas. The congenial climatic conditions along with plenty of bee flora offer tremendous opportunities for the growth and expansion of sustainable beekeeping in the country.

160,000 hectares of mangrove forests in the coastal belt and the Koh Suleman range of south Punjab are another possible honey source which are yet to be explored. Northern areas of Pakistan are blessed with a plethora of natural plantations which are the principal sources of nectar and pollen for Apis cerana.

Currently the beekeeping industry is supporting almost 27,000 families, who are adopting commercial beekeeping as self-employment for their livelihoods. Ziziphus honey, also known as the jujube, is a dark non-granulating honey with a strong flavour and aroma. This honey is in high demanded locally and in the Arab export markets. In addition to the Ziziphus crop in the autumn, beekeepers take another two to three honey crops yearly.

Mangroves – these are in Karachi – are a good source of honey

(Image courtesy of Rehan Ali via https://kashifiat.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/karachi_ mangroves.jpg)

Women’s empowerment through honey bee farming is greatly encouraged

(Image courtesy of Hashoo Foundation via http://i.ytimg.com/vi/KI4Pa2pfPZY/hqdefault.jpg)

Most Apis mellifera beekeeping is migratory, moving the bees from crop to crop. Beekeepers can exploit the wide range of climatic conditions and never need to sugar-feed their bees as forage is present year-round. Many research institutes are working on different aspects of bee research in Pakistan. NARC has established a honey-testing and quality laboratory to promote the value of bee products. It will assist the beekeepers to develop their export market by addressing issues like potential antibiotic and pesticide residues. The research institutes are organising training courses and workshops for people to adopt beekeeping as a cottage industry.

In Punjab, apiculture is offered for Masters students. Apis cerana beekeeping is being encouraged in the mountainous regions where it is better adapted than Apis mellifera and does not suffer from mite problems. Pakistan is a place where beekeeping has real potential to expand to exploit the wide range of climatic conditions and different flowing seasons the country has to offer. Beekeeping and honey production is becoming a profitable business in Pakistan and it deals with eco-friendly practices. The non-farming business activities related to apiculture have good potential to deliver economic contributions. Supplementary paybacks from beekeeping practices are associated with the biological nature of bee activities, like pollination services and conservation of natural flora. By the development of beekeeping large numbers of people are self-employed as commercial beekeepers and consequently improve their livelihoods.

Khalid Ali Khan has a PhD in Entomology/Apiculture from King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In 2010 he joined the Beekeeping Research Station, Rawalpindi, Pakistan as a Research Assistant. Dr Khan has continued interest in the field of Apiculture. He is now Assistant Professor at King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia. He is involved in experiments on honey, propolis, and other bee products at the Bee Research and Honey Production Unit. His research focuses on characterisation of honey and other bee products, bee health, molecular aspects of bee pathogens, and pollination ecology of bees.

References

AHMAD,R.; MUZAFFAR,N. (1984) Jadeed Magas Baani (In Urdu). Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Islamabad, Pakistan: 12-23.

KHAN,K.A; ANSARI,M.J.; AL-GHAMDI,A; SHARMA,D.; ALI,H. (2014) Biodiversity and relative abundance of different honeybee species (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2 (4): 324-327.

KHAN,M.A. (2015). Honey. Trade Development Authority of Pakistan Government of Pakistan Regional Office Peshawar. https://www.tdap.gov.pk/doc_reports/REPORT_ ON_ HONEY.pdf

LASHARI,K. (2009) Land Use Atlas of Pakistan. Ministry of Environment Government of Pakistan. https:// wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/9393/- Land_ Use_ Atlas_of Pakistan-2009Pakistan_ LandUseAtlas_2009.pdf.pdf? sequence=3&is Allowed=y

MAHMOOD,R.; KHALID,R.M. (2018). Making Pakistan from honey importing to honey exporting country. PARC. www.parc.gov.pk/index.php/en/ component/ content/ article/168-parc-flash-news-2018/1598-making-pakistanfrom-honey-importing-to-honey-exporting.

SULEMANI,S. (2018) Peshawar’s honey market sweetens the lives of millions in the Arab world. http://www.arabnews. com/node/1365661/food-health

WAGHCHOURE-CAMPHOR,E; MARTIN,S. (2008) Beekeeping in Pakistan: A bright future in a troubled land. American Bee Journal: 726-728.