Role of Honey Bees as Pollinators in Increasing the Seed Yield and Income in the Niger (Guizotia abyssinica Cass) A Tribal Crop Under South Gujarat Region

Niger (Guizotia abyssinica Cass) is one of the important minor oilseed crop of hilly regions and it is used for oil purpose only by the tribal people. Therefore a study was planned to document about the role of honeybees as a pollinator in increasing the seed yield in Niger crop with paired plot technique at the Niger Research Station (NRS) at Navsari Agricultural University (NAU) and at farmer's field, Vanarasi, Navsari, Gujarat and also studied its cost benefit ratio (CB) of Niger cultivar. The trial was conducted at Niger Research Station, Vanarasi and at farmers field to ascertain the contribution of honey bees (Aphis mellifera) in increasing the seed yield (due to pollination) and income due to seed yield increase. Significant differences were observed for number of capitula/plant, number of seeds/capitula, 1000 seed weight and seed yield in both the location. However, the seed yield and gross returns were considerably higher in T1 natural plot with (Aphis mellifera). The maximum seed yield of 401 Kg/ha with the gross return of Rs.14122/-was obtained in this treatment followed by Open pollinated without bee hive.