Beekeeping in Ukraine: how to start developing a business

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Thinking about developing their own business, each person considers many options. Ideal if a small hobby starts to bring profit. Take, for example, beekeeping in Ukraine as a business. Most often, a large, high-income apiary begins with two or three beehives standing on the grandfather's site. It is there, watching the enthusiasm with which grandfather takes care of the bees, young people understand that this activity can bring not only pleasure, but also a stable income.

Beekeeping in Ukraine

The main we alth of Ukraine is fertile soils, which allow to obtain high yields. Huge areas are reserved for various agricultural crops. And this means that there will always be work for the bees. That is why beekeeping in Ukraine is actively developing. Suffice it to say that Ukraine has steadily settled in the top five countries of the world, with the high development of this industry.

Various exhibitions, thematic conferences are held annually and a lot of special literature is published to help beginner beekeepers. Finding information is not difficult at all. The main thing is to take into account geographical features andchoose the right breed of bees.

Beekeeping in Ukraine is engaged not only in obtaining honey, but also in the sale of wax, pollen, royal jelly, bee venom and even dead bees. It turns out that not only the food and agricultural industry, but also the cosmetic industry and pharmacology are interested in the development of this business.

Modern methods of breeding bees in Ukraine

Ukraine has made an invaluable contribution to the development of the world science of bees. At the beginning of the 19th century, the Ukrainian beekeeper Petr Prokopovich invented the frame hive, which is still used today in apiaries around the world.

Beekeeping in Ukraine is developing according to four main methods:

1. Swarm.
2. Artificial swarming method.
3. Free swarming principle.
4. Sectional approach.

Each of these methods has its dedicated fans.

Main breeds of bees

Based on the climatic conditions of the country, the main species of bees on the territory of Ukraine are: Ukrainian steppe, Carpathian, Polissya subspecies of Central Russian bees. All these are large groups of families of the same origin, having the same morphological, physiological and economically useful features within the groups.

Usually, the main indicator for choosing a breed is not productivity, but adaptability to wintering in a certain climate. So, the Carpathian bee is ideally adapted for wintering in the conditions of the Carpathian Mountains. But the steppe cancan not endure the frosty winter in the Carpathians, so it is bred in other regions of Ukraine.

How to start growing a business

Any serious business starts with a business plan. This is the law. Despite the fact that beekeeping in Ukraine is a profitable business, it is impossible to do without assessing the risks and benefits. So, if you are ready to start beekeeping on an industrial scale, then you need to contact the experts or work on this issue yourself.

Keep in mind that you will need funds not only for the purchase of bees. Each apiary has a certain set of equipment, without which it is impossible to do. These are special suits for beekeepers, facial nets, smokers, honey extractor, hives, frames and much more.

It is important to take into account the availability of honey forage and the possibility of arranging mobile hives. So, for example, beekeeping in the south of Ukraine can receive the main honey collection at the end of May from white locust. And then bring the beehives to the fields of sunflower or buckwheat, it will be June-August.

After calculating the expenditure and income part, it will be possible to draw a conclusion about the expediency of investing in such a business.

Help for a beginner beekeeper

Primary knowledge can be obtained from books, websites or training videos. But some go the other way, asking questions of interest on various thematic forums. Many forums are international, they allow you to master the knowledge of different regions of the world, so to speak, beekeeping without borders. Ukraine has enough materials to interesthoney producers in all countries, so the answers to questions from Ukrainian experts are highly appreciated by beginners.

Legislative Framework

Since the development of beekeeping in Ukraine is an important task, there is a legislative framework that regulates relations in this industry. The Law “On Beekeeping” was adopted in 2013, it clarifies the terms and regulations, rules for the placement of apiaries and zoning of breeds, establishes veterinary and sanitary standards for persons selling honey and bee products. In addition, the law establishes control over the use of pesticides and pesticides on plantations of honey plants. Every novice beekeeper who is ready to engage in this business on an industrial scale needs to familiarize himself with the provisions of the law "On beekeeping" in order to avoid serious mistakes.