Boost for beekeepers: Haryana CM Nayab Saini announces inclusion of honey in Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana
In an important step for the welfare of farmers and beekeepers, Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini on Saturday announced that honey will now be brought under the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana (BBY), on the lines of horticulture crops.
The move aims to ensure fair prices for honey producers while promoting scientific beekeeping as a profitable venture across the state.
Addressing a state-level workshop on beekeeping at Ramnagar in Kurukshetra, CM Saini also declared that a honey sales and storage facility will soon be established at the Integrated Beekeeping Development Centre (IBDC), Ramnagar, with arrangements for quality testing. To further support this initiative, the government will set up a Quality Control Laboratory at a cost of Rs 20 crore.
The Ramnagar institute, developed in collaboration with Israel, will be elevated to the status of a national-level centre for advanced and scientific research in apiculture, the CM said.
Highlighting the role of beekeeping in strengthening rural incomes, CM Saini said, 'Beekeeping not only provides farmers with an additional source of earnings but also boosts crop yields through pollination. Haryana is committed to realizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for a 'Sweet Revolution'.'
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The CM informed that under the Beekeeping Policy-2021, the state has set a target of preparing 7,750 beekeepers and producing 15,500 metric tonnes of honey by 2030. Currently, the Ramnagar centre provides training and has already distributed 74,000 bee boxes and 3.43 lakh comb sheets. Facilities for honey processing and bottling are also available. Farmers are being offered up to 85% subsidy on bee boxes, colonies, and equipment, he said.
Underscoring the importance of diversification, Saini said horticulture and allied activities like dairy, fisheries, and beekeeping are becoming pillars of rural prosperity. 'In 2014, horticulture in Haryana was spread over 1.17 lakh acres, which has now expanded to 2.60 lakh acres. With FPOs, excellence centres, procurement schemes, and now BBY, farmers are becoming stronger,' he added.
Encouraging youth and women entrepreneurs, the CM urged them to launch their own honey brands and explore global markets through online platforms.
'Beekeeping requires minimal land and can be an ideal startup opportunity. The government will extend full financial and technical support,' he assured.
Supporting the initiative, Haryana Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare minister Shyam Singh Rana emphasized that enhancing farmers' income is the government's top priority. He said that sectors like dairy, animal husbandry, fisheries, and beekeeping are being promoted alongside crops to build a stronger rural economy.
The workshop was attended by former minister Subhash Sudha, senior officials, agricultural experts, and representatives of beekeepers' associations.
As per the data available on the website of Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority under Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, about 500 flowering plant species, both wild and cultivated, are useful as major or minor sources of nectar and pollen.
As per Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare-2023, India's total production of honey was 142 thousand metric tonne (MT).
In India, the area under production of natural honey includesUttar Pradesh (17%), West Bengal (16%), Punjab (14%), Bihar (12%) and Rajasthan (9%). These states amount to the top five natural honey producers. The country has exported 107963.21 MT Natural Honey worth USD 177.52 million to the world during the financial year 2023-24, with major export destinations including USA, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Libya, as per DGCI&S data.
As per an article 'Beekeeping: Opportunities and Challenges in Haryana' published in August 2024 by Biological Forum journal and written by experts of Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, 'Beekeeping in Haryana offers significant potential due to the state's favorable climate, diverse flora, and agriculture-based economy, which enhances crop yield through pollination, and provides opportunities for income diversification.
The varied cropping patterns, affected by different soil types, irrigation facilities, temperature, relative humidity, and agro-climatic conditions, make Haryana suitable for beekeeping, particularly with
Apis mellifera
. Haryana is among the top seven honey producing states (in India), yielding approximately 4,500 metric tons annually, with over 5,000 active beekeepers.'
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