BEE KEEPING’S IMPACT ON SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS DEVELOPMENT IN BAJAUR AGENCY PAKISTASN

Beekeeping or apiculture provides nutritional, economic and ecological security to rural communities as an additional income generating activity. The study was conducted to analyze the impact of honeybee keeping on the sustainable livelihoods development in Bajuar agency, Khyber PakhtunKhwa Pakistan. Primary data have been collected from randomly selected 80 beekeepers with the help of pretested schedule through research designed questionnaire. Descriptive statistics; frequency, mean and percentages were employed in data analysis. On average landholding of the beekeepers was 18.46 acres per household ranging from zero to 320 acres and the honey productivity per household was 1295 kg ranges from 10-6000 Kg. The mean beehives holding were 60.45 per household ranges from 2-665 hives. The average annual household income per beekeeper has been observed to be higher (Rs.527275) followed by the non-beekeeping sources (Rs.180300). The Pre and Post Beekeeping mean annual expenditures of the sample size household was Rs.164200 and Rs.257912 respectively. The major constraints listed by the beekeepers were shortage of effective bee flora during bee hives migration, pest and diseases attack, lack of professional training, extension services, credit facility and transportation. Most of the beekeepers have been observed to be potential or expand its production and productivity on sustainable basis.