Mountain hills beekeeping and its economic efficiency of district Chamba (Himachal Pradesh).

Traditional beekeeping with Apis cerana is shown to be more economical than with exotic bee, Apis mellifera. Ten Apis cerana colonies required capital investment of Rs. 119.70, whereas for keeping with 46.25 Apis mellifera colonies it was Rs. 31152.05(i.e.Rs.6735.50 for 10 colonies). Beekeeping with Apis cerana required less investment than with Apis mellifera. Beekeeping with A. cerana is more suitable for subsistence for marginal area, whereas beekeeping with A. mellifera is more suited for commercial beekeeping for high potential beekeeping areas with abundant bee flora and monocultures for migratory beekeeping. Although ratio of profit /income to production cost is much higher with A. cerana beekeeping but total/absolute annual profit /income with A. mellifera are comparatively much higher. The magnitude of beekeeping with Apis cerana may decrease but beekeeping with Apis mellifera can never take its place in Chamba district of H.P. especially for maintaining the traditional heritage of the tribal hilly area.