Sustainable Agriculture India Project #51309

Bees for Life!

by Tropical Institute of Ecological Sciences

Project Report | May 28, 2025
Bees for Life: Sustaining Pollinators, Empowering People, Inspiring Young Minds

By SARATH BABU N B | Project Leader

Honey to our adopted farmer

The Bees for Life project, initiated by the Tropical Institute of Ecological Sciences (TIES), continues to make significant strides in promoting pollinator conservation, sustainable livelihoods, and environmental education. In the latest cycle, we successfully completed honey collection across our apiaries. This achievement is particularly noteworthy as it comes amidst increasing challenges posed by climate change. Unseasonal rainfall, temperature fluctuations, and habitat stress have adversely impacted the stability and health of several bee colonies. However, through meticulous care, adaptive management, and the dedication of our field team, we were able to ensure a successful harvest.

In keeping with the project's vision of social responsibility, a substantial portion of the harvested honey was distributed among adopted farmers, including a destitute woman. Her inclusion in the initiative reflects our commitment to using ecological projects as a tool for uplifting marginalized individuals and promoting inclusive development. Vanaja’s story is one of resilience, and through this project, she continues to find strength, support, and purpose.

In parallel with our honey production activities, we organized several eco-education and awareness programmes for children from multiple schools in the region. These sessions were designed to be interactive and informative, covering topics such as the importance of bees in sustaining biodiversity, the interconnection between pollinators and food security, and the visible impacts of climate change on local ecosystems. Students also had the opportunity to observe apiary tools, learn about bee behaviour, and understand ethical practices in honey collection. These efforts are part of our long-term vision to cultivate environmental stewardship among the younger generation.

Looking ahead, Bees for Life aims to continue its multifaceted approach—monitoring environmental changes, expanding support to vulnerable individuals, and enriching educational experiences for children. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our donors and partners whose generous contributions have enabled us to carry this mission forward.

Your support not only helps preserve vital pollinator populations but also brings real and lasting change to communities and classrooms alike.

Honey extraction

Nature's Golden Nectar:Honey

The little "beeks"

Permalink

Jan 30, 2025
A Milestone in Sustainable Apiculture: Honey Collection Begins

By Sarath Babu | Project Leader

Removing eggs from the honeycomb

Thanks to the generous support of our donors, our beekeeping initiative has reached a significant stage. The colony has grown strong and self-sufficient, allowing us to transition from supplemental feeding to natural foraging. This marks a crucial shift, as the bees are now actively collecting nectar from surrounding flowers, reinforcing their role in local pollination and ecosystem balance.

With the super chamber now in place, the hive is entering the honey production phase. This period is vital, as it ensures surplus honey storage while maintaining the health of the colony. Regular hive inspections, monitoring of nectar flow, and ensuring optimal conditions for honey maturation are key activities during this time. Our team is also focusing on maintaining hive hygiene, managing pest threats, and ensuring the bees have access to diverse floral resources for high-quality honey production.

This stage is not just about honey collection—it strengthens the entire ecological cycle. Increased pollination supports local biodiversity, enhances crop yields for farmers, and contributes to a sustainable livelihood model for beekeepers. By fostering responsible beekeeping practices, we are creating a long-term impact on both environmental conservation and community development.

At the same time, the demand for pure, unadulterated honey is rising as consumers seek healthier and more natural alternatives to processed sweeteners. By ensuring ethical and sustainable honey production, we are not only supporting local ecosystems but also providing high-quality, chemical-free honey to health-conscious consumers. This initiative bridges the gap between responsible apiculture and the growing need for pure honey in the market.

As part of our community outreach initiatives, we are also empowering destitute women and cancer patients by providing apiaries and training them in hive maintenance and honey collection—completely free of cost. This initiative offers them a sustainable source of income while fostering self-reliance and dignity through meaningful work in apiculture.

Your support continues to be the backbone of this initiative. Every contribution helps sustain these efforts, ensuring that we can expand responsible apiculture and promote ecological harmony. Thank you for being a part of this journey!

"Bees do more than make honey; they sustain life itself. Every drop of honey harvested is a testament to their resilience and the harmony of nature."

The "architects"- Honeycomb building in progress

Apiary with queen excluders to avoid queen entry

Honeycomb cutting for the honey chamber

Permalink

Oct 11, 2024
Young Apiarists Take Flight: Hands-On Apiculture Training Inspires Environmental Stewardship

By Sarath Babu N B | Project Leader

Learning the nature's architecture

A group of young apiarists, including Kris, Jeremiah, Harshad, Aashika, Eeshani, and Irene, recently embarked on a journey into the fascinating world of bees. In partnership with Pallikoodam School, Kalathipady, TIES conducted an Apiculture Training for 10th-grade students as part of the school’s "Bagless Saturday" initiative, which encourages hands-on, real-world learning experiences focused on biodiversity conservation.

Dr. Punnen Kurian, Secretary of TIES, introduced the students to the world of honey bees through an engaging session on "Introduction to Apiculture," highlighting their crucial role in the ecosystem. Following this, Mr. Sarath Babu N B, Nature Education Officer at TIES, provided a detailed session on "Apiculture Farming." His presentation covered essential topics such as the ecosystem services bees provide, the various species in India, hive management, and the challenges of modern beekeeping. Students also learned about the economic and environmental benefits of beekeeping, including producing honey and beeswax.

The program culminated in a hands-on experience where students explored Apis cerana indica colonies under expert guidance. They were able to handle bee colonies, identify drones, workers, and queens, and closely examine the structure of a honeycomb. Many students left the session feeling empowered to manage beehives with confidence. Each participant was presented with a thoughtful gift—a small bottle of pure, golden honey, symbolizing sweetness and gratitude.

This enriching experience not only deepened the students' understanding of biodiversity conservation but also inspired a stronger commitment to environmental stewardship. It was a day that connected classroom theory with practical learning, leaving a lasting impact on the students' appreciation for the natural world.

Your support will help to build new apiarists. Donate for a session or "golden gift " or the bees

"In every drop of honey, there’s a world of wonder—where nature’s smallest creatures teach us the greatest lessons about balance, harmony, and sustainability."

Experiencing the buzz

The apiarists

The "beek's" with honey

Permalink

1 2 3 4 5 ›

About Project Reports

Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.

If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.