India Region

Agriculture Ministry holds workshop on “Technological Intervention & Innovations in the Honey & Beekeeping Sector”

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15 April 2023, New Delhi: The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare organized a Consultative Workshop on “Technological Intervention & Innovations in the Honey / Beekeeping Sector” in New Delhi yesterdayunder National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM). Around 600 Beekeepers honey Startups/ FPOs, and stakeholders in beekeeping participated in the workshop.

Dr. Prabhat Kumar, Horticulture Commissioner highlighted the importance of technological interventions in beekeeping. He explained the role of the National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM) and its contribution to strengthening the beekeeping sector, including the provision of promotion of Honey FPOs and Agri startups through NBHM.

He highlighted that the implementation of the NBHM scheme is also intended to strengthen the infrastructure facilities for honey collection, storage, processing, testing & branding centers, which ultimately enhance the export potential of honey in the nation. He also stated that GI Tagging may also become a great weapon to stop adulteration and malpractices in the honey sector and encouraged the beekeepers/ stakeholders for getting GI Tagging & Geo referencing for their produce. 

He invited beekeepers/ other stakeholders to avail the facilities available under NBHM and to adopt beekeeping scientifically to get additional income through honey & other beehive products. He assured full support to beekeepers across the country under the NBHM scheme.

Dr. N. K. Patle, Additional Commissioner of Horticulture, and Executive Director of the National Bee Board (NBB) addressed the participants in the workshop, he stated that technological interventions in beekeeping are very much required. He stated that Government is committed to increasing the overall potential of the beekeeping industry in the country including supporting honey startups and FPOs in beekeeping. He mentioned that 31 Mini Testing Labs and 4 Regional labs have been sanctioned under NBHM to assure the quality of honey in the country Madhukranti Portal is another initiative under NBHM to capture the data on beekeeping through the registration of beekeepers/ other stakeholders.

Samuel Praveen Kumar, Joint Secretary (Extension), DA&FW mentioned that for a successful mission, infrastructure, innovations and technologically sound strategies must be adopted to boost the sector. He also mentioned that the extensive outreach of the mission to reach ground level is another key to the successful operation of the mission.

In his remarks, Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Additional Secretary, DA&FW has mentioned focusing on nurturing potential budding Agristart-ups & FPOs through support under the NBHM scheme and motivating them to choose beekeeping as an attractive career. He assures that implementation of NBHM will upgrade skills in scientific beekeeping, setting up state-of-the-art infrastructural facilities for processing honey and allied beekeeping products like bee’s wax, propolis, royal jelly, bee venom, upgradation by quality control laboratories, and create better supply chain by setting up of collection, storage, bottling and marketing centers. He also assures that collaborated approach of APEDA, MANAGE, NIAM, NAFED, NDDB, NBB, and other related organizations will bring revolutionary achievements in the beekeeping sector.

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