BEEKEEPING IN POLAND - CHANGES AND REGIONAL STRUCTURE

Abstract

The objective of this study was an attempt to assess the changes taking place in beekeeping in Poland. The presented results indicate a systematic quantitative increase in the number of beekeepers and bee colonies in Poland. The number of beekeepers increased in 2011-2017 from less than 50 thousand up to 68 thousand. On the other hand, the number of bee colonies increased from over 1.24 million to over 1.55 million. Regional changes have been progressing at different rates, however, the increase has taken place in all voivodships. The research showed no dependence between the increase in the number of bee colonies and the surface of entomophilous plants cultivated in voivodships. This proves that the development of beekeeping in Poland does not result from an increase in the needs for pollinating entomophilous crops.