The role of apiculture in the sustainable development of rural areas of the Podkarpackie Province

Abstract

Apiculture plays a substantial role in the sustainable development of rural areas. Apart from the benefits arising from the production of honey and beeswax and from the pollination of crops, bees serve an important function in monitoring the state of the natural environment. The Podkarpackie Province is one of the leading regions in the beekeeping practice in the country. 5397 apiaries functioned within its administrative borders in 2008, with approximately 74 thousand bee colonies kept in them, and the honeybee density index is 4.13. The area and structure of the honey flow infrastructure enable further development of this particular area of agricultural production. The development of apiculture ought to be connected with a greater use of bees for pollination purposes on large horticultural plantations and rape plantations. Agrotourism farms should also use bees on a greater scale as an attraction facilitating the contact of man with nature.