DOI: 10.36347/sjavs.2017.v04i10.002

Pages: 382-395

The aim of this paper is to review traditional beekeeping in Turkey. Beekeeping is a rapidly developing part of agriculture, as it is worldwide. It provides a natural balance to the maintenance of agricultural production. Turkey has awide range of climatic and natural features and possesses millions of bee (Apis mellifera anatoliaca) colonies with a high genetic diversity. The wide range of climate environment is a great potential for bee keeping and honey production. It is said that 75% of honey plant species and varieties are in Turkey. In different regions there are plenty of honey plants which flower at different times, allowing more production than usual for bee-keeping. Turkey is currently a major country for bee-keeping for two reasons: first, bee colonies have increased in number in recent years; secondly, modern bee hives have become greater in number. Methods of bee keeping are generally traditional, and there are a few professional and migratory bee keepers among the total. Turkey is the 2nd for honey production after China and 3rd for bee colony after India and China in the World. The other honey bee products are pollen, royal jelly, propolis, bee venom and wax which are highly helpful for not only as human food but also necessary for human health. In this review bee keeping is reviewed in the context of different regions and bee breeds.