After contact with Kashmir Apiaries in Punjab I went to visit the operation in February when I was staying in Thailand over winter. They were running around 7.000 hives at the time for my visit. Most of the company is focused on processing and exporting honey from other beekeepers in India, but they want to expand the production from own hives.
Beekeeping is migratory, the workers live with the bees and follow them most of the season.
Apiaries contains up to 200 hives. Most hives are kept on 1 or 2 boxes.
I take a look inside hives. Almost all hives were crowded with bees and almost full of honey.
Half a dozen people live and work at each apiary. Sleeping tent in background.
This is the extracting tent. The level of knowledge is low and much can be done to improve beekeeping in India.
Honey is transported in tins to the processing plant. A ot of honey is also bought from other beekeepers in India.
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| Drying honey. | Micro filtering and pasturizing unit. |
Bulk honey for export is filled on drums.