Deliberations were made on increasing crop productivity, improving immunity and enhancing income
PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) in association with the National Bee Board (NBB) recently organised a webinar on BEEKEEPING – HONEY: for increasing crop productivity, improving immunity and enhancing income under the webinar series “Strategies for Doubling Farmers’ Income – Marching towards an Income Revolution of Farmers”.
Deliberations were made on increasing crop productivity, improving immunity and enhancing income.
Dr Abhilaksh Likhi, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, GOI, appreciated PHDCCI for organising a webinar on one of the most priority subjects of the government, which is not only important for the growth of the horticulture sector in India.
He added, that the Government of India has initiated a lot of programmes that are innovative in nature and technology-driven, some of which are direct benefit transfer to farmers, input subsidies through various schemes and minimum support price to farmers, among others.
He shared that India’s horticulture production has surpassed that of the agriculture sector production in the last couple of years. But mentioned that post-harvest management, cold–chain storage facilities, warehousing facilities are challenging areas and the government is working towards strengthening these to ensure strong logistics for the agriculture and horticulture sector.
Mr Lekhi assured that the government is working closely with other associations to overcome the present challenges faced by the bee-keeping stakeholder, like that of lack of infrastructure, quality testing labs, well- kept testing labs and will come up with more scientifically and technology-driven testing.
Pradeep Multani, President, PHDCCI, while deliberating the presidential address mentioned that the target of doubling farmers’ income by 2022 has brought a major change in the focus of the agricultural sector from the traditional production orientation to income orientation and created renewed interest among the agricultural research community, policymakers, state authorities, extension agencies, private players, industry professionals, the farming community, youths, students, and all major stakeholders in the country.
Ajay Beri, Chair – Food Processing Committee, PHDCCI, said that Indian agriculture needs a paradigm shift from the traditional agriculture system to diversified, secondary, speciality agriculture, well supported by smart policies, strengthened institutions with enabling environment for both public and private sector investment and performance. Only then the agriculture sector would be able to ensure household nutritional security and improve the livelihood of millions of smallholder farmers in the country.
The experts deliberated on the importance of beekeeping in improving productivity, R&D in the sector, issues and challenges in export and marketing and discussed the role of the Government of India in promoting beekeeping.
