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Government allocates Rs.500 crore towards Beekeeping

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Highlights

  • Union Agriculture Minister says government promoting Beekeeping as part of its aim to double farmers’ income
  • India among world’s top five honey producers

New Delhi, May 22, 2020: The Government of India is promoting Beekeeping as part of its aim to double farmers’ income. Addressing a webinar organised by the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), Shri Tomar said the Government has allocated Rs.500 crore towards Beekeeping under the Atma Nirbhar Abhiyan. He said India is among the world’s top five honey producers. Compared to 2005-06 honey production has risen by 242% and exports shot by 265%.

Government has allocated Rs.500 crore towards Beekeeping under Atma Nirbhar Abhiyan

Shri Narendra Singh Tomar

30 lakh farmers trained

Shri Tomar said, “Beekeeping will be an important factor in achieving the goal of doubling farmers’ income by 2024“. He added, “the National Bee Board has created four modules to impart training as part of the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM). 30 lakh farmers have been trained in beekeeping and are also being financially supported by the Government. Even small and marginal farmers can adopt beekeeping since investment is low and returns high.”

Mr. Tomio Schichiri, Representative, UNFAO talked about the importance of quality assurance in exports of honey. Dr. M V Rao, Additional Chief Secretary, West Bengal talked about the massive steps of their Government to promote production, branding and marketing of organic honey and wild honey by women groups. Dr. BNS Murthy, Horticulture Commissioner of India highlighted the innovations in new Mission.

Issues before beekeepers such as promotion of scientific beekeeping, quality assurance, minimum support price, transport of bee colonies, processing, packaging, branding, testing, organic certification of honey and different beehive products were discussed. Successful beekeepers and entrepreneurs from Kashmir, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh shared their experiences and suggested ways forward to bring about the Sweet Revolution.

The webinar was conducted yesterday by the NCDC on the theme “Sweet Revolution and Atma Nirbhar Bharat”. The event was conducted in partnership with the National Bee Board, the Government of West Bengal, the Government of Uttarakhand and the Sher-e- Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology, Kashmir.

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