Dharwad: Flow hive technology, developed by the Dharwad-based ‘Farmers First’ organisation, is recognised as one of the top 100 technologies by DRDO and has received an India patent. This technology enables honeybee keepers to install artificial plastic nests in the boxes, and these nests dispense honey directly into bottles installed under the boxes.
Prakash Goudar, a nature conservationist who pitched the idea of developing the technology, told TOI that Apis Cerena Indica and Apis Mellifera honeybees are commonly used for honeybee keeping.”Honeybee boxes contain two sections—the upper for honey collection and the lower for breeding. These sections have 6-8 wooden frames, and the queen bee is confined to the lower section. Worker bees are stored in the upper section and store the honey there in the existing system. However, plastic frames replace wooden frames in this technology, and honey is stored in the same frames. An injection-like device can push this honey to a chamber installed under the sections, from where a plastic straw can push it into bottles. It reduces human intervention in collecting honey,” he claimed.
Vidya Desai, head of Farmers First, said that her startup aims to enhance the income of honeybee keepers. “Since we aim to encourage women to take up this activity, this technology helps homemakers and others unaware of honeybee keeping to get involved, which brings income for keepers. It will help farmers to enhance their income in the fields,” she commented.
Goudar said that when he explained the concept, the team at KLE Technological University, Hubballi, headed by Ravi Guttal, provided the technical support to materialise the idea. “Now we have allied for validation of the technology from the honeybee department at GKVK Bengaluru. Once we get validation, we will launch advanced boxes to the market,” he asserted.
Prakash Goudar, a nature conservationist who pitched the idea of developing the technology, told TOI that Apis Cerena Indica and Apis Mellifera honeybees are commonly used for honeybee keeping.”Honeybee boxes contain two sections—the upper for honey collection and the lower for breeding. These sections have 6-8 wooden frames, and the queen bee is confined to the lower section. Worker bees are stored in the upper section and store the honey there in the existing system. However, plastic frames replace wooden frames in this technology, and honey is stored in the same frames. An injection-like device can push this honey to a chamber installed under the sections, from where a plastic straw can push it into bottles. It reduces human intervention in collecting honey,” he claimed.
Vidya Desai, head of Farmers First, said that her startup aims to enhance the income of honeybee keepers. “Since we aim to encourage women to take up this activity, this technology helps homemakers and others unaware of honeybee keeping to get involved, which brings income for keepers. It will help farmers to enhance their income in the fields,” she commented.
Goudar said that when he explained the concept, the team at KLE Technological University, Hubballi, headed by Ravi Guttal, provided the technical support to materialise the idea. “Now we have allied for validation of the technology from the honeybee department at GKVK Bengaluru. Once we get validation, we will launch advanced boxes to the market,” he asserted.