That could almost be the motto of the CBRTI

“Bee-keeping is a recognised field now, with sophisticated methods being used. Over the years, exhaustive research has yielded many scientific breakthroughs. And any knowledge gained here is disseminated to the bee-keeping centres, agriculturists and amateur bee-keepers,” says the in-charge of the institute.

“The dull-brown-coloured honey bee is the only agency in existence, which harvests the nectar from flowers to manufacture the substance. Moreover, other by-products like beeswax and propylis come from the honey-bee. Thus bee-keeping is beneficial to both industry and agriculture,” he adds.

This innocuous insect with the deadly sting produces the sweetest nectar in the world – honey. In the garden of the institute, wooden containers containing soupers, when uncovered, reveal thousands of drones and worker bees, filling the honeycombs. Seventy bee colonies are bred here.

The CBRTI was established by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) under the Directorate of Bee-keeping in Mumbai. The Pune centre is entrusted with the agricultural research and training aspects, while the head office at Mumbai concentrates on marketing. The institute building therefore possesses research laboratories, storage rooms and a well-equipped library. MSc and PhD students pursue their research projects here, fully recognised by the University of Pune.

The institute has made valuable contributions in the design and fabrication of honey processing units. Most noteworthy is the moisture-reduction honey processing technique, employing the services of the Indian hive bee, the most popular and economical species. Another species is the European honey-bee, the favourite in the North, and though it is expensive, its yield is high. The hive bee is easier to manage and most commonly used.

As the in-charge says reverently, “The honeybee is the only insect which takes nothing from us, requires no land and keeps giving us something. It requires low maintenance, and the less you disturb it, the more it gives. ” Well, here’s more life and substance to the indefatigable honeybee.