How is beekeeping getting promoted in hilly areas?

Along with farming, beekeeping plays an important role in making the youth and farmers economically strong in rural areas. Nowadays, farmers are earning good income by adopting new techniques in this business. It can become an excellent option for self-employment in hilly areas, because the weather here is good for beekeeping.

In view of this, the government has made various schemes along with subsidy to promote beekeeping in hilly areas, so that this business gets a boost. Kisan Aur India’s correspondent Deepika Joshi talked to Puran Singh, Senior Research Assistant, Government Beekeeping Center, Jyolikot, on all these issues, how much farmers and youth are benefiting from schemes and subsidies and how farmers can increase their income from this.

Promotion of beekeeping in Uttarakhand

Puran Singh, Senior Research Assistant, Government Beekeeping Center, Jyolikot, told that his institute comes under the Horticulture Department, which is a branch of the Uttarakhand department, where farmers and youth are given training related to beekeeping. Beehives, bee colonies are made available to them, so that they can start beekeeping in their area.

Let us tell you that Government Beekeeping Center, Jyolikot is the oldest institute in North India, where along with giving technical information about beekeeping, efforts are made to link it with business.

Training of beekeeping to farmers

Puran Singh further told that different training programs of three, five and seven days are organized in his area. The purpose of these workshops is to give basic training related to this new business to the people here. After training, any person can start his own business with at least 10 boxes. If you want to do business on a large scale, then you can start it with 100-150 boxes.

Its biggest feature is that it can be done at both levels. It can be started at a commercial level and as a subsidiary business, because it does not require any separate resources. It can be started with less resources and less capital.

This is a good option for additional income in hilly areas. Bees bring pollen from flowers and make honey themselves, which farmers can sell to earn good income. Honey is sold at the rate of Rs 500 to 1000 per kg.

Connecting youth with beekeeping

Senior Research Assistant Puran Singh further says that his institute first makes people aware about beekeeping and by going from village to village, it motivates people for training by promoting it. Everyone can come to our institute and take training related to beekeeping. There are employees of beekeeping in every Janpath of the state, by contacting whom they can get information. At the same time, one can also get detailed information related to this from the Chief Horticulture Officer in the district.

Schemes related to beekeeping

There are many types of schemes for beekeeping, through which beekeeping is being promoted. Under each scheme, 7 days of training is given and then interested youth are given a subsidy of 40 percent for beekeeping.

There is a cross-pollination scheme for those who have started this business. Under this scheme, help of up to Rs 35000 is given.

80 percent subsidy is given in the Madhugram scheme, and farmers have to spend only 20 percent from their side. Under this scheme, 500 bee boxes are given in a Gram Panchayat, which gives many people an opportunity for self-employment at the same time. This creates a distinct identity of that area and its honey.

Different types of honey

Puran Singh also tells about different types of honey that the bees collect the honey of the flower they visit. If the boxes are placed in a mango orchard, they collect its honey, if placed in a litchi orchard, they collect litchi honey, similarly if placed in a mustard field, they collect its honey. The bees collect the honey of the different flowers in the area. All of these have different characteristics and that special honey is known by the name of that flower. The honey found in the hilly areas is completely organic. Since the bees take pollination from different types of plants, then its qualities also come in the honey, making it more beneficial.

Beekeeping and market

Regarding the problem of the market, Puran Singh says that there is a little problem in the market, but efforts are being made by the government for this so that the honey of the farmers can be processed here and sold by giving it a brand name.

Puran Singh informs that although honey from hilly areas is sold there, but if someone’s honey is not sold, then he can take help from his institute. He says that farmers can get a lot more than honey from beekeeping. Honey is the cheapest product of bees. Apart from this, beekeepers also produce wax, propolis, royal jelly, pollen, honey ash, etc. Because of this, their price is much higher than honey. 

Honey production is easier and cheaper than other jobs and where beekeeping is done, crop production also increases. For the youth who migrate from hilly areas due to lack of employment, beekeeping can prove to be a good employment opportunity. By adopting this business, they can earn a good income in their own state.

Some important things related to beekeeping

Honey production will not only increase the income of farmers, but also increase the production of oilseeds, vegetables, lemon, Malta, litchi and other crops.

The production of these crops can increase by 15 to 30 percent, because 80 percent of the plants do cross pollination and bees have a special role in this.

For beekeeping, choose a place where there is moisture, as well as the place is dry and the water around is also clean. For this, the air should be good and there should be a green environment which provides pollen to the bees.

During beekeeping, the bee box should be kept near the field so that the strength of the bees is saved. At least ten percent of the plants around the box should have flowers.

Consult your local agricultural department for advice on preventing bee diseases.

Product removal should begin after the flowering season is over.