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Welcome to FIA

Welcome to the new website of “The Federation of Indigenous Apiculturists (FIA)”. It is a highly respected non-profit organization led by dedicated honorary professionals committed to promoting and supporting indigenous apicultural practices in Kerala and elsewhere, where biodiversity plays a crucial role in sustaining both human livelihood as well as bees.

Over the last 15 years, our research and marketing efforts have focused on the incorporation of cutting-edge technologies into the apiculture industry. Our primary goal is to encourage the production of natural pure and safe honey, as well as value-added products thereby contributing, to the social, economic and nutritional s, nutritional security as well as the overall wellness of rural artisanal beekeeping communities.

OBJECTIVES

  • FIA stands for enhancing rural income and employment through profitable and scientific apiculture of all honeybee species.
  • FIA proposes to develop viable technology for honey-based products.
  • Interface interactions with various state government agencies involved in food security to plan collaborative projects for implementation in various districts.
  • FIA aims to promote sustainable and eco-friendly apiculture practices, ensuring the conservation of honeybee species and their natural habitats.
  • FIA seeks to empower rural communities by providing comprehensive training programs and resources for successful apiculture entrepreneurship, fostering economic growth and self-sufficiency.

ACTIVITIES

  • Develop software supported AI-IoT based mobile advisories.
  • Bee breeding for efficient apiaries that can resist diseases and could sustain uniform productivity.
  • Intensify popularisation of stingless-bee hive management and enlarging its population in the state.
  • Develop scientific automated honey processing plant to provide processing support to FIA members.
  • Linkage with research institutions such as Central Bee Research and Training, Pune and ICAR-All India Coordinated Research Project on Honeybee and pollinators for symbiotic R&D outcome.

  • Working in tandem with all state agencies with the mission of enhancing farm income, such as Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Horti Corp, etc., FIA propose to catalyse and invigorate the State’s plan for high yielding crop production for domestic and export marketing.

About FIA

The Federation of Indigenous Apiculturists (FIA), a collective of beekeepers’ collaboration has more than 2500 life members on roll and is a registered not-for-profit NGO, since 26-3-2008. FIA is registered under the Travancore – Cochin Literacy, Scientific and Charitable Societies registration Act XII of 1955 and operating in Kerala. FIA has the recognition of the National Bee Board (NBB) and National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), Government of India. FIA has been registrered and enlisted for CSR funding, by the government of India and DHARPAN registration.

The Federation is administered by a state level committee and have district committes in all 14 districts.

Beekeeping (Apiculture) is an age-old enterprise that is practiced by rural-folk in our country. Honey is the main product that has influenced human diet and nutrition in a big way. Right from new borne to very old humans, honey has been a natural gift for wellness. The significance of Captive bee keeping has become an intensive commercial enterprise globally. Crop pollination and foraging for honey and pollen could be utilized skillfully for quality crop production besides harvesting honey and pollen from bee colonies. This dual benefit makes apiculture a commercially attractive venture.

Guiding Force

Working as Biologist for over 50 years, Dr Rajendran researched on apiculture
in small holding rubber plantations of Kerala since 1974. He was part of a team
to develop KUFRI SWARNA potato variety (1983) in the Nilgiris, Tamilnadu  in 1983.

 

Dr TP Rajendran

Patron, FIA

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Born and raised in Vakkom, Trivandrum, and my current role as Patron of the
Federation of Indigenous Apiculturist (FIA) is truly inspiring. My passion for farming and
Terrace gardening led to explore the world of apiculture, even while working as a Joint
Registrar at Kerala University.

Mr A. Abdul Kalam

Patron, FIA

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Proprietor, Golden Bee Farm Industries Chittarikal, Kasaragod is one of the pioneers in beekeeping in Kerala having good knowledge in bee management, honey production, value addition and marketing. Fourly years of Experience in Bee keeping and Honey Marketing. Life Member National Bee Board.

Mr. K.K. Thomas

President, FIA
Professor and Principal Scientist, AICRP on Honey bees & Pollinators and Dean, faculty of Agriculture, Kerala Agricultural University (Retd) and Member FSSAI Scientific panel on ‘Sweets, sweeteners, sugars ,confectionary and honey’ and Beekeeping Expert, with 28 years’ experience in beekeeping.

Dr. Stephen Devanesan

General Secretary, FIA
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Fomer Principal, Govt. Model Boys Higher Secondary Sehool, Thycaud.  Winner of national award for best teacher for 2002. Udyan Pandit award 1994 (Floricultura), Mathruka Karshakan Award  1997. Gandhi dharsan award 2002, farmer innovation award 2013.  Maintains a model apiiary with Indian bees, Italian bees and Stingless bees.

Mr S.A. John

Treasurer, FIA

After pursuing a short stint in teaching, he worked for 3 years in Canara Springs, one of the Pioneer German Collaboration firms, specialised in Leaf Spring Manufacturing. From manufacturing, he moved into Defence Organisation, DRDO.

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Mr. K.G. Nair

Vice President, FIA

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Doing business at Trivandrum and Ernakulam. Now settled in Ernakulam. Also an agriculturist running a certified organic farm at Kuttalam, Tamilnadu, having certified organic branded grapes called golden valley grapes. Coconut, gooseberry, mango farms. He is a big apiculturist and has large number of bee colonies in his farm.

Mr. Shaji C Varkey

Vice President, FIA

Born and brought up in a farmer family. Graduate in Engineding. AMIE in Electrical and electronics, Architecture from Delhi School of Architechture. Retired from PWD own a Jasm im Asyankavu. Own a farm in Aryankavu. Spices- Pepper, clove, coconut, ginger, turmeric, vegetables. Exotic fruits more than 450 varieties.

Mr. B. Ravindsam Nair

Joint Secretary, FIA

Name of my apiary is known as Irenes Bee Keeping (IBK) centre and the brand of honey is Irene’s honey. IBK centre practice migratory bee keeping. I am a coach for apiculture and conducts classes on bee keeping practices at Krishi Bhavans and schools. I am also marketing bee hive products such as honey wax balm.

Mr Biju Sebastian

Joint Secretary, FIA

Recent Events

WhatsApp Image 2024-05-29 at 07.25.25 (1)

WhatsApp Image 2024-06-21 at 13.10.19

WhatsApp Image 2024-06-21 at 13.09.32

Skilling on apiculture & meliponaculrure to Kerala State SAMETI officials on 25 July 2024

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Skilling on apiculture & meliponaculrure to Kerala State KUDUMBASREE officials on 25 July 2024 at FIA Hq.

Previous Events

Book release ceremony for Dr. Stephen Devanesan's book on Honey Bees.

Thenulsavam 2014 inagurated by former minister K.P. Mohanan

Thenulsavam held in VJT Hall, Palayam audience.

After inauguration minister Sunil Kumar visiting Stalls.

2016 FIA Meeting organized at YMCA Trivandrum

Thenulsavam 2016 Audience in VJT Hall

Training programme conducted by FIA

Inaguration of National Bee Board Regional seminar on awareness, motivation, technology transfer in Bee keeping

National Bee Board Regional seminar on awareness, motivation, technology transfer in Bee keeping

OUR MISSION

Improve livelihood of rural youth through empowered skill development to pursue apiculture and market hive products.

OUR VISION

Profitable beekeeping for improved crop productivity in Kerala enabling state’s ecological balance

Latest Apiculture Publications

“Explore the latest publications, research articles, and informative resources on beekeeping and indigenous apiculture practices from FIA.”

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FAQ

FIA a non-governmental registered body of bee keepers of Kerala, who may like to avail technical and market support. FIA stands for sustaining the apiculture industry in Kerala.

FIA undertakes certification of apiaries for practicing GOOD BEEKEEPING PRACTICES by its member apiaries. This certificate can be valid for marketing their bee-products at a premium price.

FIA offer to its members recent technological developments to member apiaries. Periodic skilling and knowledge transfer would be undertaken by FIA for the benefit od its members.

FIA gave special attention to Melliponaculture (Stingless beekeeping) in the state during the last decade. FIA considers this manner of bee keeping as ‘ARTISANAL bee keeping'. FIA shares its knowledge reservoir to impart high end skill development to the youth of the state. Hundreds of persons across genders have availed this training programme at FIA. These skilled personnel have become self-employed entrepreneurs would be the critical mass that FIA supports to enhance the production and marketing of bee products such honey, pollen, wax, resins, propolis etc.

FIA has recently taken up DATA-BASE management of various aspects of apiculture in the state. We would be happy to receive real-time data from bee-keepers and other agencies every month to be included in the FIA data base.

We are in the process of developing mobile application for bee-keepers to access national market prices of bee products as well as for solutions in apiaries of FIA-members.

FIA is mandated to undertake custom-processing of honey and other bee hive products. Honey processing and bottling shall be undertaken by FIA.

Rubber honey contains moisture higher than 19 percentage. During honey flow the bees tend to seal the honey combs in the Super chamber. The flow is so intense that they have no time to mature it before sealing. So the honey flow from rubber needs to be cured within 15 days after harvest and then bottled.

Commercial apiculture has many challenges such as abiotic factors and biotic factors.

  1. The primary requirement in commercial apiculture is hygiene. Abiotic challenges are more in the summer months when the bees need water near colonies to cool the hives. During rainy season the colonies become week in the absence of pollen and nectar. The low light condition affects bee colonies. They tend to become week.
  2. A number of diseases and pests affect bee colonies when they become week. These include Varroa mite, bacterial and virus diseases. Bee colonies have to be inspected to see that these problems are noticed as and when they come up.

Jack fruit, Anjli (Artocarpus – jungle jack), kail, toon, pine, and many semi-hard wood are useful. The property of the wood to sustain all-season weathering and can serve beekeepers for at least 3-4 years.

The colonies are to be kept in good wooden hives in very good condition. Broken hives / hives with holes can attract a number of predators such as lizards, wasps etc. Periodic change of broken brood and super chambers can be undertaken. Ready stock of these would help bee keepers to undertake replacement as and when required.

Brood diseases are caused by viruses and bacteria in honey bee colonies. The Italian (Apis mellifera) are more prone to this disease although in an epidemic condition Apis cerana indica colonies are also infected. Epidemic infection can destroy the entire colony stock of bee farmers in an area.