Since 2003, beekeeping in a region such as Bashkiria has taken first place among all subjects of the Russian Federation in terms of production of honey and other products obtained from bees. In addition to obtaining beeswax and royal jelly, Bashkir bee breeds are spreading to other regions. Beekeeping first began its development in this area one and a half thousand years ago, as evidenced by the finds of beekeeping equipment.
Story
Beekeeping is one of the oldest trades practiced by residents of Bashkortostan. If you look into historical documents, honey produced in this region is first mentioned in Arabic manuscripts dating back to 992. In those days, honey was obtained by destroying the nests of wild bees. Starting from the 15th century, the Bashkirs began to engage in beekeeping, later it was replaced by log beekeeping, and then by frame beekeeping, which flourishes in the region today.
Since 1998, Bashkiria has seen an increase in the production of honey and other beekeeping products by 8% annually, which is facilitated by the natural conditions of the region.
Natural conditions of Bashkiria
The Republic of Bashkortostan occupies part of the eastern edge of the East European Plain. The western part of this subject of the Russian Federation is flat, the eastern part is mountainous. The specificity of the region is that the main part of its territory is covered with forests, in which there are significant areas of honey plants. No other region of the Russian Federation has forests of such scale and quality. This, together with the special climatic conditions and rich flora, make Bashkortostan one of the most favorable regions for the development of beekeeping.
Bee breeds
In the process of long evolutionary development in the Republic of Bashkortostan, a unique breed of bees was formed, differing from other varieties in its biological, economic and consumer characteristics. As a result of research conducted by employees of the state research center, the standard of bees of the Bashkir breed was approved:
- the mass of bees emerging from the cells is from 110 to 115 grams;
- weight of fetal uterus - 215 grams;
- drone weight - from 235 to 255 grams;
- The body color of queens and drones is dark gray;
- egg production of queens - 2000 eggs per day;
- The honey signet is white.
The uniqueness of the Bashkir breed of bees lies in their good winter hardiness, as well as high honey productivity. In addition, bees are resistant to European foulbrood and honeydew toxicosis. The breed is characterized by high summer activity, as a result of which one family collects up to 150 kg of honey.
Another breed that is used in Bashkortostan for collecting honey is the Central Russian. Since the formation of the breed took place in difficult conditions, insects are characterized by increased survival. The Central Russian bee is very different in appearance from other varieties that are bred in Russia. The insects have large body sizes, wide legs and a dark gray, almost black color. The fetal uterus weighs about 200 grams and lays 2000 eggs per day, so the development of families occurs intensively.
The only drawback of the Central Russian bee is its aggressive nature; insects do not tolerate any interference in their space and well protect their homes not only from thieving bees, but also from humans. The breed is characterized by increased winter hardiness and immunity to most bee diseases.
The main honey plants of Bashkiria
The rich flora of the Republic of Bashkortostan allows you to collect honey throughout the warm season.
Spring honey plants
There are about 40 species of spring honey plants in the region, from which bees collect pollen and nectar. The list of the most common includes the following:
- spring adonis;
- true primrose;
- viburnum;
- strawberries;
- black and red currants;
- Norway maple;
- meadow rank;
- lungwort;
- alder buckthorn;
- two types of willow;
- blueberries and lingonberries.
In addition to nectar, many types of honey plants that bloom in the spring produce huge amounts of pollen, which helps to enhance the brood of bees. Herbaceous perennials provide insects with supporting food and also help to increase the egg production of queens.
Summer honey plants
From the first days of June in Bashkiria, white clover begins to bloom, after which the linden tree begins to bloom. Large bribes are given to insects by plants that begin to bloom in the second half of summer.
Commercial summer honey plants in Bashkiria include:
- creeping clover;
- rose hips;
- Siberian hogweed;
- common warbler;
- mouse peas;
- purple sedum;
- common blackhead;
- small-leaved linden;
- eastern svebriga;
- blooming Sally;
- white sweet clover;
- motherwort five-lobed.
Autumn honey plants
At the beginning of autumn, the region also has enough honey plants, which provide bees with additional honey. Flowering plants no longer produce much nectar, but insects have enough of it to keep the colony in good condition.
Early autumn honey plants include the following crops:
- common chicory;
- gray hiccup;
- tripartite sequence;
- yarrow;
- curly thistle.
Which Bashkir honey is the best?
There are several types of Bashkir honey, and it is impossible to say which one is better, since each variety has its own unique taste and beneficial properties.
The main types of honey produced in Bashkiria include:
- Lime. This variety belongs to the elite, it is characterized by a fine-grained consistency and a delicate delicate aroma of linden flowers.Freshly pumped honey is colorless, as it crystallizes it becomes white with a golden hue. It contains up to 37% glucose and 40% fructose.
- Steppe. This honey is considered polyfloral, as it is collected from different plants during their flowering period. The product has beneficial properties thanks to medicinal herbs, the nectar from which insects collect. Its color varies from whitish to golden amber. The steppe variety contains a large number of microelements and amino acids, due to which it stimulates all physiological processes in the human body.
- Prefabricated floral. Bees collect this type of honey from early spring to the first half of autumn. Dozens of species of mountain, forest and meadow plants are responsible for the unique bouquet of aroma. The color palette of the product is varied - from almost white to dark brown. This variety is distinguished by high nutritional and medicinal properties.
- Buckwheat. Nectar is collected from flowering buckwheat, honey has a spicy taste and a slight bitterness. The color of the variety ranges from dark yellow to reddish and dark brown.
Problems of local beekeeping
The development of beekeeping in Bashkiria is hampered by the following factors:
- uncontrolled deforestation in the region, which leads to a reduction in honey production;
- high prices for breeding material;
- treatment of fields with insecticidal preparations and environmental pollution;
- a small number of beekeeping stores;
- importation of breeding material into the region from other areas, which leads to crossing and loss of characteristics of the Bashkir breed of bees.
Prospects
In recent years, the government of the republic has begun to pay more attention to the development of the industry in the region.To advertise beekeeping, special fairs are held where products are presented; novice beekeepers are allocated funds for the purchase of breeding material and the necessary equipment.
