Beekeeping is environment-friendly and agro-forestry based enterprise. It provides huge potential for raising income, poverty alleviation, using forest resources sustainably. One can keep honey bee as pets by keeping a bee box on their balcony. He said that all the KVKs should have Honey Bee Units at the centre and capacity building programs for rural youths may be organized. Organized efforts for educating the beekeepers about beekeeping, value addition and marketing should be taken up. Taking apiary as entrepreneurship development was discussed. Special emphasis on IFS model integrated with beekeeping was given for doubling the farming income. The honeybee may be considered as a national insect.
In view of the importance of the Bee Keeping and the mission statement of the Hon`ble Prime Minister in the Lok Sabha regarding Doubling the Farmers Income, Krishi Jagran brought out a special issue for the Bee Keepers.
World Honey Bee Day was celebrated at KVK, Baramati (Pune). Dr Lakhan Singh, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Pune inaugurated the program and informed the farmers about Government policy and importance of pollination.
In total, 210 farmers from Baramati, Indapur, Purandar, Daund talukas of district Pune and Phaltan from district Satara participated in the event.
Mr Balaji Tate guided farmers on doubling the farmer’s income by using honeybee hives; Mr Shahaji Jachak guided farmers regarding the use of honey bee hives in Pomegranate.
Chander Mohan, Krishi Jagran
