On 20th May 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW), Government of India celebrated World Bee Day at Raja Bhoj Agriculture College in Waraseoni Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh. The event was attended by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, along with the Agriculture Minister of Madhya Pradesh, the Chairman of the OBC Welfare Commission of Madhya Pradesh, the Chairman of NDDB, and other dignitaries.
Shri Tomar highlighted the initiatives taken by the Government of India to strengthen beekeepers in the country through the “10,000 FPO Scheme” under the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM). Under this scheme, 100 beekeeper/honey producer Farmers’ Producer Organizations (FPOs) have been allocated, and 80 FPOs have already been registered. He emphasized the significant potential for honey production in the area and the importance of utilizing it to increase farmers’ income.
The World Bee Day celebration included an exhibition with over 100 stalls showcasing various varieties of honey bees and products related to beekeeping. More than 1,000 farmers, beekeepers, processors, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders associated with honey production attended the program.
A workshop consisting of three technical sessions was organized on different themes, including the need for research and development to promote scientific beekeeping for income generation, effective marketing strategies for domestic and export markets, and production technology and research and development in scientific beekeeping.
The program aimed to promote and popularize beekeeping nationwide under the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) of the Government of India, as part of the Atma-Nirbhar Bharat initiative. The NBHM, implemented through the National Bee Board, focuses on promoting scientific beekeeping and entrepreneurship among small and marginal farmers, infrastructure development for post-harvest management, and support for research and development to achieve the goal of a “Sweet Revolution.”
During the event, achievements in honey production were highlighted through a short video film. Participants from different categories were felicitated for their significant contributions to the sector. Launches of publications on beekeeping and honey products by startups and FPOs were also announced. Additionally, several honey testing labs and bee box manufacturing units were inaugurated virtually by the Hon’ble Agriculture Minister.
India’s diversified agro-climatic conditions offer great potential for beekeeping and honey production. The country produced approximately 133,200 metric tonnes of honey in 2021-22, with exports of 74,413 metric tonnes worth Rs. 1221 crore (US $164.835 million) in 2020-21. Scientific technology, quality standards, and the promotion of other beehive products such as bee pollen, beeswax, royal jelly, propolis, and bee venom have helped beekeepers increase their income and meet the growing demand for honey and beehive products domestically and internationally.
Bees play a crucial role in pollination, contributing to nearly three-quarters of the plants that produce 90% of the world’s food. Effective pollination enhances agricultural yield and improves the quality of produce. Beekeeping in India is not only a promising agri-business activity for farmers but also contributes to increased agricultural productivity, leading to food and nutritional security in the country.
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