International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
Omkar D Phatangare, Swati S Khandave and RA Lokhande

abstract
Agriculture and allied agricultural sectors continue to contribute for national economic development. Recently, apiculture is emerging as one of the lucrative venture, so it is important to focus on diverse honey bee products along with honey production. The research was designed to study the prospects of apiculture as an enterprise. The prospects of apiculture was operationalized as the result of multiple determinants viz. knowledge and skills acquired, self-satisfaction, economic security, employment opportunities, opportunities for entrepreneurship development, scope for export and supportive schemes for enterprising. The present study was conducted purposefully in Mahabaleshwar tehsil of Satara district as the practice of beekeeping is prominent in hilly area of this district. Total 150 respondents from 5 villages viz. Manghar, Dudhgaon, Goroshi, Kharoshi and Parut of Mahabaleshwar tehsil were selected randomly. Data was collected, tabulated and analyzed for the results. Major results of the study revealed that, greater majority (70.67 per cent) of the apiculturists expressed high prospects of apiculture to emerge as reliable, sustainable enterprise. In which, 94.00 per cent agreed that rearing bees enabled them to develop knowledge and skills, 85.33 per cent of the apiculturists agreed that beekeeping provides feeling of self-satisfaction, 96.67 per cent agreed that it provides economic stability by generating additional income and an economically reliable enterprise, 94.67 per cent apiculturists agreed that apiculture is engaging enterprise and provides off-season employment for farmers, 71.33 per cent of the respondents considered apiculture as a lucrative business model for youth, 63.33 per cent apiculturists accepted that bee products has more demand in foreign countries, especially in western countries and 91.33 per cent responding apiculturists agreed that various government schemes help to promote the apiculture as an enterprise. Thus, study can be concluded that apiculture as an enterprise provides potential market for additional income generation, ensuring ecological sustainability and provide livelihood security to the farmers.