During Soviet times in Belarus, beekeeping was one of the most developed industries compared to other union republics. Then special events were held aimed at supporting bee farming and facilitating the sale of products. Even 30 decades ago, thanks to the large number of bees, vast areas of agricultural crops were pollinated, as a result of which productivity increased significantly.
Story
A unique forestry industry arose in Belarusian Polesie.Due to its enormous economic importance and widespread use, beekeeping determined the vector of development of this forest region for several centuries. The name of the beekeeping trade comes from the word “bort” - this is an artificially hollowed out hollow in a tree for bees. At first, the inhabitants of this region bred forest bees in hollows they created with their own hands.
The trade developed from wild beekeeping, when people accidentally found nests of wild insects, destroyed them and took the honey.
In the 15th and 16th centuries, honey and other bee products were the main export products from the region. At that time, on the territory of modern Belarus there were more than a million borts, the marketable products from which amounted to about 500 thousand poods every year. Cow farming was then considered one of the most profitable industries. Residents of the region supplied wax abroad, first to Lithuania, and from there the goods were transported throughout Europe. Beekeepers of the Belarusian Polesie region have developed their own unique method of making beetroot, as well as the tools necessary for collecting honey and caring for insects.
With the onset of massive deforestation, which occurred at the end of the 18th century, beekeeping lost its former leading position and was replaced by log beekeeping. However, it was no longer possible to achieve the previous volumes of honey production. At that time, there was a swarming system, which consisted in the destruction of the most powerful families of insects in the fall.
Weak families were left for the winter, which ultimately led to the degeneration of the local variety of bees, since most of the wintering insects did not survive until spring.In addition, this approach had a negative impact on the development of barovars; the bees began to lay brood not in new, but in old honeycombs.
In log beekeeping, hollows were hollowed out not in the tree itself, but in its severed part, after which they were attached to the tree or special stands were created for this.
What is the state of beekeeping in Belarus?
Beekeeping in Belarus began to decline in the mid-19th century; with the advent of Soviet power, it was possible to increase the level of production of honey and other products obtained from bees, but since the 90s of the last century this industry has been in a deplorable state. Previously, bees were engaged in pollinating vast areas of agricultural crops, thereby increasing their productivity. When beekeeping reduced its volumes, this also affected the plants grown, after which it was decided to plant crops that do not require pollination.
Limiting factors in development
The limiting factors for the development of beekeeping in the republic include the following points:
- insufficient government funding;
- lack of incentive for the development of this industry;
- insufficient implementation of modern technologies, which makes it impossible to automate many processes;
- lack of proper selection;
- high mortality rate of insects due to poor living conditions;
- lack of a supporting legislative framework;
- lack of special educational institutions.
In connection with the adopted “Sanitary and Veterinary Rules”, it has become more difficult to place hives, since the regulatory document states that they must be located no closer than 500 meters from roads. As a result, entire areas fell out of the possible areas for the development of beekeeping.
In addition, there is an acute shortage of production of high-quality fetuses for sale to the population at affordable prices. As a result, beekeepers import fruiting material from abroad; no more than 5% of farms can replace old queens with young ones of Belarusian origin.
The development of the industry in the republic was also negatively affected by deforestation, as well as environmental pollution.
The path to industry development
Today, experts are sounding the alarm and proposing ways for the industry to overcome the crisis. After all, thanks to beekeeping, you can significantly replenish the state budget by exporting the product abroad. In addition, if measures are not taken, beekeeping as a form of farming can completely die.
Queen-breeding apiaries
Queen-breeding apiaries are the first step towards reviving the industry in Belarus. They are small farms where they breed bees and increase families. Thanks to this technique, the number of insects in one bee colony increases significantly, which in turn allows you to collect large volumes of honey.
Breeding work
An important stage in the development of beekeeping in any region is considered to be selection work, which makes it possible to improve the quality of breeding material. The simplest form of this work is to improve the productive and breeding characteristics of bees of a zoned breed through mass selection. In this case, the most purebred and productive families are chosen for reproduction.
Legislation on beekeeping
Today it is necessary to develop legislation that would support domestic beekeepers and create favorable conditions for the development of the industry in the region. At the moment, the “Law on Personal Farming”, in force in Belarus, does not contain special provisions on beekeeping.
What breeds of bees live in the country?
In Belarus, as a rule, Carpathian bees are bred. Description of insects and their productive characteristics:
- comes from the dark European bee;
- the color of the insect's body is dark gray, without yellowness;
- there is slight pubescence on the underside of the body;
- sizes are medium;
- winter hardiness is high, due to the fact that the formation of the breed took place in a harsh climate;
- insects also work in cold weather and collect nectar from several honey plants, so it is difficult to obtain monohoney from this breed;
- per season, one family collects up to 50 kg of honey;
- The nature of the breed is peaceful, so some beekeepers work with them without wearing masks.
Thanks to the development of the Carpathian breed, Belarusian beekeepers manage to support the industry, since it is a productive species. During the season, the queen can lay up to 3000 eggs.
