After completing his matriculation, Odisha’s Bijay Kumar wanted to learn some skills that would help him earn money and sustain his family. So, he took training in beekeeping from Bhubaneswar’s Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT).
In an exclusive interview with Startup Pedia, Bijay Kumar Bir, the owner of the "Minibala Beekeeping Production Unit", shared his journey of quitting studies after Plus Two and becoming a full-time beekeeper.
Bijay Bir decides to become a full-time beekeeper
Matriculate becomes a beekeeper
After completing school, Bijay started a garments business, which was going well. Now that he had taken the beekeeping training, he started bee farming as well.
The trained beekeeper started the "Minibala Beekeeping Production Unit” in 1998. He continued his garment business along with his bee farm until he left it in 2010 to become a full-time honey farmer.
“Practice makes you perfect,” shared Bijay Kumar Bir from Odisha’s Angul district. “Initially, I wasn’t making any profit after taking the training and starting on my own. Slowly, I learnt the ropes of beekeeping.”
Bijay started with 50 transportable hives or boxes with a complete set-up of a honeybee colony. He invested Rs. 2 Lakh to start his beekeeping farm.
As the years progressed, the farmer became more experienced and started buying more boxes and pouring more money into his bee farm. Till now, he has invested around Rs. 20 Lakhs in the honey business.
The Odisha farmer shared that bees could be Indian or foreign in origin, depending on which, the quantities and quality of honey would differ. Also, it can vary according to the region.
“With experience, you will slowly understand which bees are best for your area,” the beekeeper revealed to Startup Pedia. “Also, anyone can do beekeeping, but you need to be careful while handling the bees,” he cautioned.
The Odisha bee farmer said that one needs to get proper training before starting the honey business. He further suggested consulting local beekeepers before starting as a professional beekeeper.
“Bookish knowledge is okay, but unless you try bee farming with your own hands, you won’t learn anything!” the bee farm owner told Startup Pedia.
Honey produced at Minibala Beekeeping
Selling honey, making money
Now, the bee farmer sells honey directly to the government-owned Khadi and some NGOs. They come to his place and collect the honey. Also, he rents his bee boxes to local farmers, which aids in cross-pollination and helps increase the production of the farms.
The forty-five-year-old bee farmer also gives training to honeybee farmers individually and in groups. Additionally, he sells bee-keeping equipment and helps new farmers with marketing honey.
The honey farmer Bijay Kumar Bir warned that one needs to protect oneself from bee stings if one comes into the business. He explained that bees do not attack and sting unless they sense danger.
“With experience, you learn how to treat bees and how to handle them while collecting honey,” the beekeeper said knowingly. “You won’t want to get stung by the bees!”
Further, the Odisha farmer shared that honey farming depends on the plants around the boxes from which the bees collect nectar for the honey.
“Different flowers grow in different seasons in Odisha,” the farmer informed Startup Pedia. “So, you will get different varieties of honey in different seasons.”
Honey production at Bijay's farm
Beekeeper’s protection
Honey can be harvested 2-3 times a year from the bee boxes. Definitely, honey farming is done with a good deal of caution. Masks, gloves and smoke sprayers are essential for protection against the bees while collecting honey.
Customised stands are used in boxes so that the bees cannot eat up the collected honey.
“You must be very careful while opening and closing the boxes,” the honey farmer advised. “Always make sure that the bees don't get irritated. Also, have a good outer covering for the box.”
When nectar is not available for the bees, honey farmers feed their bees with artificial food.
Bijay Bir at the farm
Profits earned in bee farming
Odisha’s Bijay Kumar Bir generates Rs. 5-6 Lakhs annually from the Minibala Beekeeping Production Unit.
He claimed that the honeybee business is indeed profitable if you are open to training and learning. When asked how much a farmer would have to invest to start the year on today’s date, Bijay opined it would cost around Rs. 8 Lakhs to start the business with 100 production boxes.
Odisha's Honey Farmer Bijay Kumar Bir
FAQ
What is beekeeping?
Beekeeping or apiculture is the practice of maintaining bee colonies, commonly in artificial beehives. Honey bees in the genus Apis are commonly kept species, but other honey-producing bees, such as Melipona stingless bees, are also farmed. Beekeepers or apiarists keep bees to collect honey and other products of the hive, such as - beeswax, bee pollen, propolis, and royal jelly.
Who is Bijay Kumar Bir?
He is a beekeeper from Odisha’s Angul district making a profitable business from his bee farm.
What is the "Minibala Beekeeping Production Unit”?
Founded in 1998, it is Bijay Kumar Bir’s honeybee farm produces honey, gives training and support to farmers who want to start the business and also sells bee-keeping equipment and helps new farmers with marketing honey.
How profitable is the beekeeping business?
Starting with around Rs. 8 Lakhs to start the business with 100 production boxes, a new honey farmer can start earning an annual income of around Rs. 1 - 2 Lakhs.
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