Apiculture is the maintenance of hives of honeybees for the production of honey and bee wax. It is also known as bee-keeping.

Apiculture is of great importance to the human beings in the following ways:

(a) Honey has a high nutritive value. Thus, it is included in our diet.

(b) Honey also has medicinal importance and hence used as laxative, antiseptic and sedative.

(c) Honey is used in the manufacturing of cakes.

(d) Honeybees also produce beeswax, which is used in the preparation of cosmetics and polishes of various kinds.

(e) Honeybees act as pollinating agents and thus help in improving crop production.