Cash Bee farming with apis dorsata (Rock Bee): A potential biological resource for green and sweet revolution.

Apis dorsata (Rock Bee) is indigenous honey bee species which is confined to Asia. It is one of the important natural resource complementary to agriculture and forest for its highest contribution in pollination service. Its symbiotic relationship with plants results into sweet and green revolution. It is a wild and nomadic species well known for its long distance foraging range. At present in India 18000 metric tons of forest honey is obtained from rock bee colonies every year. The species is widely known for its pollination efficiency and the pollination benefit is approximately 15 to 25 times that of the cost of the honey. Apis dorsata being aggressive species and attacks heavily on intruders and therefore it is always threatened by man. It is because of fear that the wild bee colonies from forest, agriculture rural and urban habitats are always destroyed by man using violent and criminal methods. Moreover, increasing eco-criminal activities that is intensive use of poisonous pesticides in agriculture, deforestation, monoculture and unfriendly practices employed for honey extraction has resulted in to reduction of wild bee colonies. Considering its ecological and economical importance this species needs intensive conservation efforts. Moreover, amongst natural pollinating agents it is one of the important biological wealth of Asia responsible for increasing agro-horticultural and forest productivity and also quality of these products. The direct and indirect benefits gained by our country from honey production and pollination benefit when computed are approximately Rupees 2880 crores. With scientific monitoring and using newly developed eco- friendly techniques now it is possible to harvest honey without doing any harm to bees, brood and to their nest. Moreover, establishing tree apiaries of Apis dorsata and adopting bee friendly practices for honey harvesting, it will be a income generating activity for tribal honey hunters, farmers and also to the traditional beekeepers. This environmental friendly approach will definitely contribute in conserving Apis dorsata the highly neglected biological resource of our country. Through conservation efforts, scientific manipulation and management practices, it will be possible for us to conserve Apis dorsata. The planning commission of India, state governments, non government organizations and all those who are actively connected to sustainable development of agriculture, horticulture and forest should give priority for networking conservation of Apis dorsata. This will positively result into food and nutritional security of India. Natural biological resources like Apis dorsata have potential to make India free of poverty.