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HomePosts Tagged "apiculture"
Agrotech, Bee keeping, India

To harness the export potential of honey in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a ‘Sweet Revolution’ through promotion of beekeeping and allied activities, the Indian government along with honey producing farmers and private companies is taking huge strides forward to enhance honey production and revenue generation.

The rising prevalence of chronic medical ailments, such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, represents one of the key factors positively influencing the honey market in India. In addition, the escalating demand for immunity-boosting and health-improving products is offering lucrative growth opportunities to honey manufacturers. The rising utilisation of honey in home remedies is also increasing the sales of honey in the country. Apart from this, scientific validation of the medicinal properties of honey and its rising usage in formulating medicines for the treatment of cough and acute throat infection on account of its antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial properties is augmenting the market growth. Additionally, leading players are focusing on launching different product variants, which is propelling the market growth. Along with this, the Government of India is introducing various training programmes and mentoring services to educate farmers on the latest beekeeping practices. Furthermore, the expansion of organised distribution channels, such as supermarkets, hypermarkets, convenience stores, and general stores, along with the thriving e-commerce industry, is stimulating the market growth. Moreover, increasing investments by key players in research and development (R&D) activities to improve extraction processes are anticipated to drive the market further.

The Indian apiculture market reached a value of Rs 20,480 million in 2021. It is all geared up to reach a benchmark figure of Rs 40,161 million by 2027, with a CAGR of 11.73 per cent during 2022-2027, according to IMARC, a global research company with its headquarters located in Noida.

India is a major honey exporting nation. As per the data shared by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, India exported 74,413 metric tonnes (MT) of natural honey worth Rs 1,221 crore during 2021-22, with the United States taking a major share at 59,262 MT. The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Nepal and Morocco were the other top destinations for Indian honey. When it comes to producing and exporting honey, India came in at 8th and 9th, respectively. The main producing hubs for natural honey in the nation are Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

Policy Impetus for Apiculture

Exports of honey have enormous potential, particularly post the COVID-19 pandemic, given the rise in its intake as a potent immune booster and a healthier option than sugar. To further enhance honey production and to make this sector more profitable, last year, the Government of India approved an allocation of Rs 500 crore for the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) for three years (2020-21 to 2022-23). The mission was announced as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative in February 2021.

To harness the export potential of honey in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a ‘Sweet Revolution’ through promotion of beekeeping and allied activities, the Indian government along with honey producing farmers and private companies is taking huge strides forward to enhance honey production and revenue generation. Keeping in view the importance of beekeeping as part of the Integrated Farming System in the country, the NBHM is promoting holistic growth of the beekeeping industry for income and employment generation for farm and non-farm households. Some of the focus areas include, enhancement of  agriculture/ horticulture production, development of  infrastructural facilities –  including setting up of Integrated Beekeeping Development Centre (IBDC)s/Centre of Excellences (CoEs), honey testing labs, bee disease diagnostic labs, custom hiring centres, Api-therapy centres, nucleus stock, bee breeders, and empowerment of women through beekeeping.

Under NBHM, 11 projects totaling Rs 25.60 crore have been approved to increase both knowledge and skill in scientific beekeeping; empower women through beekeeping; and showcase the positive effect that honeybees can have on crop yields and quality. It also seeks to educate farmers about the availability of specialised beekeeping equipment for the manufacture of valuable commodities across the honey value chain. Products such as royal jelly, bee venom, and comb honey, as well as upcoming research into the potential of High Altitude Honey, unique honey production in the Kannauj and Hathrus districts of Uttar Pradesh, and the potential of mustard honey to treat colon cancer in 2020-21 are some of the major sub-elements associated with this project.

Elaborating further on the subject, Dr Tanu Sethi, Senior Associate, NITI Aayog stated, “The Sweet Revolution is an ambitious initiative of the Government of India, which is aimed at promoting apiculture, popularly known as ‘beekeeping’, for accelerating the production of quality honey and other related products. Beekeeping is a low investment and highly skilled enterprise model, in which technology application has emerged as a great enabler for socio-economic growth. The demand for good quality honey has grown over the years as it is considered a naturally nutritious product. Other apiculture products such as royal jelly, beeswax, and pollens are also used extensively in different sectors like pharmaceuticals, food, beverage, beauty, and others.”

Echoing similar thoughts, Anand Jakkulwar, CEO, Anand Bee Farm Enterprises said, “Recently, the beekeeping sector has attained new heights owing to the Central Government’s initiative ‘Sweet Revolution’. This initiative has attracted many young entrepreneurs to get associated with this business and has resulted in enhancing the production of honey in India. If everything falls into place, India has the potential to become a leading honey producer in the world.”

To read more click on https://agrospectrumindia.com/e-magazine

To harness the export potential of honey

Agro Universities, Agrotech, Bee keeping

Collaboration for research and technological exchange was explored between the PAU and Israel during the visit

Yair Eshel, Agriculture Attache, Embassy of Israel, visited the Apiculture Unit of the Department of Entomology, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and interacted with apiculture scientists and postgraduate students in apiculture as well as bachelor students in agriculture undergoing an experiential learning programme in commercial apiculture.

Dr DK Sharma, Head of the Department, apprised the visiting member of the progress, achievements and recognitions of the PAU in the discipline of apiculture. He also highlighted the pioneering role of PAU in the successful introduction, multiplication and release of the Italian honey bee in the country.

Dr Pardeep Kumar Chhuneja, Incharge of the Apiculture Unit, shed light on PAU’s strong outreach programme in the promotion of Apiculture, including the training programmes for the Apicultural scientists of other State Agricultural Universities and ICAR Institutes. Dr Chhuneja informed that Yair also visited the PAU Apiary and research and training facilities including various apicultural research labs like diseases diagnostic lab, bee breeding lab, etc.

During the meeting with apiculture scientists of PAU, collaboration for research and technological exchange was explored between the PAU and Israel, particularly for the production and post-harvest handling of bee products, bee breeding, bee pollination and innovative bee husbandry and data recording technologies. The possibilities of training the PAU Apiculture scientists from Israel in advanced Apicultural technologies were also explored. Yair assured full support for the future joint ventures in apiculture including for some specialised training of the PAU bee scientists in Israel.

Collaboration for research and technological exchange was

Acquaculture, Agro Universities, Agrotech, Horticulture, Poultry

The Governor of Kenya Khaemba hailed the evolution of PAU and its significant role in improving the agri-assets

A three-member delegation comprising Patrick Khaemba, Governor of Kenya; Lydia Seroney, wife of Khaemba; and Mary Nzomo, Minister of Agriculture, Kenya visited Punjab Agricultural University (Pday to deliberate upon mutual areas of cooperation. The visiting delegation interacted with the senior officials of PAU, deans of constituent colleges, additional directors of research and extension education, and heads of various departments of the university. The delegation was accompanied by Dr Parvinder Singh, Vice-Chancellor, Rayat Bahra University, Punjab and GS Bahra.

Dr AS Dhatt, Director of Research, while giving a presentation on PAU and Green Revolution said, “Having outstanding human resources and exemplary linkage with the farming community, the university has played a remarkable role in the development of agriculture in Punjab as well as India.”

“Presently, the focus is on developing varieties for enhancing crop productivity and quality, having tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses, conservation of soil and water, and crop residue management,” he added. Dr Dhatt suggested collaborating in the areas of field crops (wheat, rice, maize, cotton and sugarcane), horticulture, food technology, apiculture, agro-forestry, water use efficiency and farm machinery.

The Governor of Kenya Khaemba hailed the evolution of PAU and its significant role in improving the agri-assets. Stating that Kenya was good at developing poultry, he said, “It is turning about democracy and people.”

Appreciating the close linkage of PAU with farmers of Punjab, he remarked: “We need to think of farmers and how to motivate them to take up new technologies.”

“Kenya would like to assist PAU in agricultural issues being faced in Punjab. We should jointly work in those areas which are following the governmental rules of both the nations,” said the Governor.

The Agriculture Minister of Kenya Nzomo said that Punjab and Kenyan agriculture had many similarities. “Both being rice-wheat producers, we would like to focus on food and nutrition as well as food diversification such as cereals and pulses,” she stated while evincing interest in the area of extension also and lauding PAU’s skill development training.

The Governor of Kenya Khaemba hailed the

Agro Universities, Bee keeping

Discussions were held on managing various diseases of Italian honey bees and development of quality queen bees of Apis mellifera

The National Bee Board (NBB), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India (GOI), has sanctioned two new projects in Apiculture to the Department of Entomology, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, under the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) scheme of the GOI. This information was shared Dr DK Sharma, Head of the department.

According to Dr Pardeep Kumar Chhuneja, Incharge of the Apiculture Unit, the new projects included ‘Facilitating honey bee health through diagnosing and managing various diseases of Italian honey bees’ and ‘Development of quality queen bees of Apis mellifera.’

Dr Sharma disclosed that earlier also, PAU was sanctioned two projects in succession by NBB, the previous being on Queen bee rearing and supplies, followed by a mega project of Integrated Beekeeping Development Centre/Centre of Excellence in the year 2016-17 which had bee disease diagnosis and bee breeding as the components.

Dr Jaspal Singh, Principle Entomologist, “PAU is the lead institute in India in breeding of Italian honey bees and supply of quality queen bees to beekeepers.”

Dr Amit Choudhary and Dr (Mrs) Bharathi Mohindru are the Principal Investigators of the projects, respectively, according to whom, these projects will facilitate in building necessary infrastructure and developing technologies in the areas of bee pathology and bee breeding.

DK Tiwari, Vice-Chancellor, PAU and Additional Chief Secretary, Punjab; and Dr Ajmer Singh Dhatt, Director of Research, congratulated the apiculture team and wished them for the successful conduct of the projects.

Discussions were held on managing various diseases

Agro Universities, Bee keeping

Discussions were held on how to create awareness among beekeepers by designing courses with the support of ICAR schemes

A 21- day Winter School on “Commercial Apiculture for Livelihood Security of Farmers and Unemployed Rural Youth” concluded at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU). The programme was organised by the Department of Entomology, PAU under the aegis of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). In total, 29 participants from 12 states comprising Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Haryana, Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, New Delhi, Odisha, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and one Union Territory Ladakh participated in the winter school.

In his concluding remarks, the chief guest, Dr Naveen Patle, Additional Commissioner (Horticulture) and Executive Director, National Bee Board, New Delhi, observed that there were some issues and problems in the apiculture sector which called for the attention of the apiculture scientists. 

“Some crops remain untouched and scientists need to work on the schedule of the crops which can be recommended in apiculture,” he said. Besides, Dr Patle made a call for focusing on technology demonstrations, increasing the quality and quality of by-products made from honey, and creating awareness among the beekeepers by designing courses with the support of ICAR schemes.

The guest of honour Dr Seema Jaggi, Additional Director General (Human Resource Development), ICAR, New Delhi, said that apiculture was an area where more entrepreneurs could be developed. The winter school was a two-way process; it provided an opportunity to disseminate knowledge in apiculture (by experts) and learn in return (from participants). Seeing the relevance of beekeeping, the programme was chalked out for the livelihood and security of the farmers, she remarked.

Dr Sandeep Bains, Nodal Officer and Dean, Postgraduate Studies, said that the university made an outstanding contribution in the commercialisation and industrialisation of apiculture, thus, opening the gates for the export of Apis Mellifera in 1996. “PAU has the credit of producing the largest hive manufacturers as well as the honey traders and exporters,” she added.

Dr MIS Gill, Dean, College of Agriculture, said: “PAU is leading in apiculture research. Since the introduction of Italian honey bee Apis Mellifera by a noted entomologist Dr AS Atwal in 1962, PAU has never looked back in apiculture.” Apiculture was an asset that could earn money for the small and marginal farmers/labourers, he observed. Dr Gill voiced his concern over the issue of ‘adulteration’ in honey and stressed maintaining its quality to win the faith of the consumers.

Dr DK Sharma, Head, Department of Entomology, said that the department has made 30 national recommendations in apiculture till date. “PAU was the first in India to start Experiential Learning Programme (ELP) in apiculture,” he revealed. The University has the distinction of having an Integrated Beekeeping Development Centre and a Toxicology Laboratory, fully equipped with state-of-the-art equipment for the analysis of pesticide residues in agricultural produce and commodity samples. The lab is set up as per the Bureau of Indian Standards under the National Accreditation Board for Laboratory and has been declared as the referral lab for pesticide residue analysis at the national level, he told.

Dr PK Chhuneja, Professor of Entomology and Course Director, in his welcome address, said that the winter school was a great learning experience for the apiculture scientists. It touched all the developmental aspects of apiculture through the organisation of 100 specialised lectures and virtual tours of apicultural manufacturers and beekeeping entrepreneurs, he added. Dr Chhuneja disclosed that the participants also toured Nagrota Bagwan (then in Punjab state and presently in Himachal Pradesh), where Apis Mellifera was introduced in India in 1962.

 Dr Jaspal Singh, Principal Entomologist, proposed a vote of thanks.

During the programme, four participating scientists, namely, Dr Sunita Yadav, Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar; Dr Kumaranag KM, ICAR- All India Coordinated Research Project (Honey Bees and Pollinators); Dr Ipsita Odisi Priyadarsini Mishra, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Odisha; and Dr PS Neharkar, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Prabhani, Maharashtra, hailed the informative lectures and the tours, organised by the PAU. They described the winter school training as ‘excellent.’

Discussions were held on how to create