ICAR-Directorate of Floricultural Research (DFR), Pune, has developed India’s first Pollinator Habitat Restoration Kit, designed to conserve pollinators and enhance crop productivity.
Pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and moths play a crucial role in food security, with nearly 35 per cent of global crop production depending on their services. However, rapid habitat loss and declining floral diversity have placed these species under increasing threat.
ICAR-DFR scientists created the kit after years of extensive field research on pollinator diversity, foraging behaviour, and ornamental plant preferences. More than 600 ornamental plant species were studied for their ability to attract 153 different pollinator species. This database on seasonal pollen and nectar benefits became the foundation of the kit’s design, making it scientifically robust as well as practical for farmers.
The kit includes seeds of 20 seasonal flowering plants known to attract pollinators, a bilingual handbook with eco-agriculture guidelines, and a QR-coded card offering plant care tips along with access to a digital pollinator database. Planting these flowers in and around crop fields helps increase food and nesting sources for pollinators, thereby improving pollination, boosting yields, and enhancing crop quality.
Kit will be especially valuable for farmers cultivating pollinator-dependent crops such as onion, cucumber, mango, pomegranate, and custard apple. It also promises significant benefits for beekeepers by supporting bee health and ensuring sustainable production of honey, wax, and other bee products.
Available in two versions, one for large institutions and another tailored for small farmers, the innovation aligns with India’s broader goals of sustainable agriculture, biodiversity conservation, and ecological resilience.
