Beekeeping in orchards boosts farmers' income
2025-06-04 20:06:01
By Ma Yuhan.
Farmers in Yichang’s Xingshan County are raising bees in their orchards — a practice that not only improves fruit yields and quality but also increases their income.
With favorable geography, diverse fruit varieties, and long flowering seasons, Xingshan offers ideal conditions for orchard-based beekeeping. This integrated approach is helping local farmers boost their income.
Chen Dacheng, an experienced beekeeper at Xingshan’s Xiangtan Village, was checking the beehives in his orchard. Chen has planted over 130 loquat trees and utilizes the space beneath them for beekeeping.
Farmers in Yichang’s Xingshan County are raising bees in their orchards — a practice that not only improves fruit yields and quality but also increases their income.
With favorable geography, diverse fruit varieties, and long flowering seasons, Xingshan offers ideal conditions for orchard-based beekeeping. This integrated approach is helping local farmers boost their income.
Chen Dacheng, an experienced beekeeper at Xingshan’s Xiangtan Village, was checking the beehives in his orchard. Chen has planted over 130 loquat trees and utilizes the space beneath them for beekeeping.
The beehives that Chen Dacheng has set up in his loquat orchard."These bees help pollinate the fruit trees and improve their resistance to pests and diseases,” he said. “Now, both the yield and quality of the fruit are better.”
In the county’s Dali Village, Wang Yuanxing manages a peach orchard where he raises over 80 bee colonies.
“The peach harvest season lasts from early May to early August,” Wang said. “We produce more than 15,000 kilograms of peaches each year, generating around 40,000 yuan (US$5,500). Additionally, the bees produce over 500 kilograms of honey annually, bringing in over 20,000 yuan.”
Wan Chunfeng contributed to this story.
