Regular Update
ATM News Network: Honey production plays a crucial role in agriculture. A major campaign for beekeeping is being carried out at the central level. The central government has provided information on the current situation in honey production.
In the year 2021-22, honey production has increased by 6.56 per cent and export by 24.02 per cent, the central government informed the Rajya Sabha.
Replying to a question on the National Beekeeping and Honey Campaign, Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said the country's honey production has registered a 6.56 per cent increase from 1,25,000 tonnes in 2020-21 to 33,200 tonnes in 2021-22.
Minister Tomar said India's honey exports have increased from 59,999 tonnes in 2020-21 to 74,413 tonnes in 2021-22, a growth of 24.02 per cent. An increase in honey production directly increases the income of farmers and beekeepers.
Various efforts have been made to achieve the target of 1,60,000 tonnes of honey production, he said some of the measures include awareness programmes, training, seminars, workshops, development of nucleus stock centres, development of bee breeders, plantation of bee friendly plants and custom hiring centres.
Out of the total 100 allocated honey FPOs (Farmer Producer Organisations), 80 honey FPOs have been registered so far by various organisations under the government's 'Creation of 10,000 FPOs' programme. He said that this also helps in increasing the income of the farmers.
Till date, 20.64 lakh bee colonies have been registered on the 'Madhukranti Portal' by beekeepers, associations, firms and companies etc, he said.Four regional honey testing laboratories and 31 mini honey testing laboratories have been approved under the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission to ensure the quality of honey.
To a separate question about the states benefiting the most from Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Tomar said that in Rajasthan, 344.6 lakh applications were registered by farmers in 2021-22. It is followed by Maharashtra with 99 lakhs, Madhya Pradesh with 92.7 lakhs and Odisha with 81.6 lakhs. A total of 831.8 lakh applications were registered for farmers across the country in the year 2021-22.
On another separate question on agriculture startups, Tomar said the number of startups in agriculture and allied sectors is expected to exceed 7,000 in 2022-23, compared to less than 50 startups in 2014-15. He attributed this to
The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is implementing the 'Innovation and Agri-Entrepreneurship Development' program under the National Agricultural Development Scheme from 2018-19. It aims to promote innovation and
Update yourself with the latest agri business news in English and Marathi with Agri Trade Media. Subscribe Agri Trade Media on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for more agri B2B news.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by ATM staff and is published from a web feed.)
