If you take care of bees, the bees will take care of your needs and also of the other farmers and the society,” so believes the veteran, well-known and respected beekeeper of Jind town in Haryana, Anil Singh Sandhu.
Sandhu through his grit, hard work and determination has earned a name for himself as a successful beekeeper. He presently owns and manages 2,000 boxes with his team of dedicated and equally committed co-workers.
A self-confident Sandhu is an inspiration for both — youth as well as fellow farmers. For youth – on how to earn a decent and respectable livelihood. And for farmers — on how to increase farm productivity as well as family income with little but smart efforts.
Like most successful people, he too went through the ups and downs of life, often steep and discouraging. Not discouraged by the plethora of problems and temporary setbacks, he overcame them with perseverance, hard-work and dedication.
Today Sandhu is a happy and contented beekeeper. He has achieved recognition as a successful beekeeper. He takes satisfaction from the fact that his state of Haryana as well as the central government has recognised beekeeping as an important allied agricultural activity with huge potential. The importance of beekeeping lie in increasing income of people living in rural areas, raising farm productivity and also achieve the ambitious target of doubling farmers’ income.
In order to promote scientific beekeeping, the Central Government under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) is running several training programmes. These training programmes are being organized by the Horticulture Departments of States and National Bee Board (NBB), which was earmarked as a national level agency for coordinating and promoting various activities.
The beekeeping was initially promoted by the All India Khadi and Village Industries Board (KVIB) which was set up in 1954 to encourage traditional village industries. Later in 1981, the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) launched an All India Coordinated Research Project on Honeybee Research and Training with the involvement of various agricultural universities. In 1994-95, the agricultural ministry launched a central sector scheme for Development of Beekeeping for Improving Crop Productivity.
Later, National Bee Board (NBB) was set up as a registered society to promote beekeeping throughout the nation. The board has been playing a vital role by making available the craft of scientific beekeeping to large number of potential beekeepers.
Why neem oil is coated on ureaUrea is coated with a layer of neem oil to enhance soil fertility and curb pilferage of subsidised urea to chemical industry and other illegal uses such as making of harmful synthetic milk. Under the Investment Policy for Urea, the government in 2015 has made it mandatory for all the indigenous producers of urea to produce 100 per cent of their total production of subsidized urea as neem coated urea (NCU) as well as to neem coat imported urea from May 2015. By this, the government wanted to encourage efficient use of fertilizers and reduce subsidies. Compared to plain urea, neem coating results in gradual release of urea into soil, helping plants gain more nutrients and resulting in higher yields. A study conducted by the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW) has found that the use of NCU results in the improvement in soil health; reduction in costs with respect to plant protection chemicals; reduction in pest and disease attack; an increase in yield of paddy, sugarcane, maize, soybean and tur/red gram to an extent of 5.79 per cent, 17.5 per cent, 7.14 per cent, 7.4 per cent and 16.88 per cent respectively; diversion of highly subsidized urea towards non-agricultural purposes negligible among farmers after the introduction of the mandatory policy of production and distribution of only NCU. As diversion became minimal, some State Governments have reduced their requirement which was initially projected. Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi conducted a research on NCU which showed that rice grain yield has gone up by 6.3 per cent to 11.9 per cent over normal urea. Much before this, researchers have studied the benefits of neem coated urea briquettes in paddy cultivation, especially on the Indrayani variety of rice developed by Agricultural Research Station at Igatpuri in Maharashtra. According to Vaibhav Pawar, agriculture officer, the state agriculture department adopted certain villages in the Pune region for implementing the new technique. It was found that paddy output increased from 2-3 quintals per acre to 10-15 quintals per acre after using neem coated urea briquettes. About 15 farmers who adopted this technique reported an increase in income. The popularity of the technique led to production of neem coated urea briquettes locally by women self-help groups resulting in employment generation. Since last 15 years, this technique has been yielding higher income to farmers engaged in paddy cultivation. A study conducted by the Institute for Social Economic Change (ISEC), Bengaluru, for paddy found that application of NCU propelled a higher paddy output and net income in the 2015 kharif season when compared to 2014, when plain urea was used. The paddy output increased from 28 quintals an acre in 2014 to 36 quintals in 2015 kharif, while the paddy by-product increased from 62 quintals to 67 quintals. The study said on an average, the net return for one acre increased from Rs 13,492 to Rs 21,474. The findings of the study reported in The Hindu said about 85 per cent of paddy farmers enjoyed an increase in yield of 12 per cent when they used neem-coated urea. Apart from the increase in yield, NCU is found to be cost-effective as it reduces the consumption of urea by 10-15 per cent. It is also found to be environment-friendly and has helped reduce the environmental hazards. The use of NCU is found to be effective improving the uptake of N, P and K to a considerable extent. Compared to normal urea, the neem coated variety is found to be agronomically superior. |
The NBB’s main objective is to promote scientific beekeeping with a view to increase crop productivity besides encouraging production of honey and other beehive products. The broad purpose of the whole exercise and also the project is to increase income of rural household. It may through production of honey and other by-products or though increased crop productivity.
The NBB seeks to achieve its objective of promoting scientific beekeeping by “popularizing state of the art technologies relating to nucleus stock production, capacity building and training bee breeders and beekeepers, processing etc.”
Its present focus is on promoting Integrated Beekeeping Development Centres (IBDCs)/Centres of Excellence (CoEs) on beekeeping in each state. Most of the IBCDs are equipped with infrastructural facilities for developing and promoting scientific beekeeping. These centers are helping beekeepers and farmers adopt scientific beekeeping methods in an integrated manner with a view to get better results and improved productivity of the crops in adjoining areas.
Besides, the elaborate list of programmes being promoted by MIDH through liberal financial assistance include organization of conference, workshops, national and international level seminars, training camps at several places and exposure visits of beekeepers within India and abroad.
The NBB in the last four years has trained about 12,300 farmers/beekeepers in scientific beekeeping including production of high-value beehive products like bee pollen, propolis, royal jelly, bee venom.
According to Sandhu, training and education is an ongoing process and it is imperative for a successful beekeeper to keep up with the latest developments in the sector. These could include adoption of better methods of upkeep of bees, their breeding, extraction of honey and other by-products, hygiene and marketing of products etc. The list can go on and on. There is no end of learning as there is no end to development of newer techniques, newer methods of beekeeping and newer processes.
The MIDH provides several grants and assistance for various activities associated with the craft of beekeeping. It extends liberal assistance for development and multiplication of bee stock. Under the scheme, as assistance of Rs 20 lakh is provided per project to research institutes for production of nucleus (pedigree) stock. Assistance is also provided to the extent of 40 per cent of the project, subject to a ceiling of Rs 4 lakh, for production of bee colonies by bee breeders.
Under the scheme, MIDH provides an assistance of 40 per cent of the project cost subject to a ceiling of Rs 800 per set of bee colony and beehive, supers etc. The scheme covers distribution of eight frame bee colonies (50 beehive colony per beneficiary) and eight frame bee colonies (50 beehives, supers etc per beneficiary).
To encourage human development activities, MIDH provides an assistance of Rs 7.5 lakh for international level seminar, Rs 5 lakh for national level seminar, Rs 3 lakh for state level seminar and Rs 2 lakh for district level seminar. An assistance of Rs 1,000 per participant is also provided towards training programmes. Besides, assistance is also provided for exposure visits within and outside the country to help beekeepers keep abreast of the latest developments in the sector.
According to economics of beekeeping worked out by the NBB Executive Director, Dr B L Sarswat, a unit of 100 bee colonies could yield an annual income of Rs 2 to Rs 2.5 lakh per year. These estimates were based on prices and may not be true to the last dot in all cases as prices of input and output, especially honey, change with time and place.
However, Dr Sarswat’s analysis does provide the basic financial structure of a beekeeping enterprises and profits that can be earned with small investment and financial assistance from organised sources of finances. No one can deny the fact that beekeeping as standalone activity or as an allied activity can help in supplementing the income of farmers, directly as well as indirectly.
The biggest advantage of beekeeping is that it provides ample opportunities for sustainable livelihood to people residing in rural areas, tribal land and around forests. An unemployed youth can start his own business of beekeeping with as little capital as Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh.
According to an NBB analysis, 10,000 bee colonies in bee hives can generate 3.75 lakh man days of employment and income from 100 bee colonies could be in excess of Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh per annum. Moreover it can also help in doubling farmers income by supplementing and complementing agriculture and other horticulture activities.
Allied Activities for Enhancing IncomeAnimal husbandry, dairying, fishing and horticulture have to be an integral part of the Modi Government’s plan to double the income of farmers by 2022. These allied activities are important because they support the core activity of improving farm productivity in addition to increasing the income of farmers and all those who are connected with them. Besides, they also add to the nation’s wealth, gross domestic product (GDP) and the national income. Keeping in view the importance of these sectors in the life of every citizen, these activities have been accorded priority in the government’s scheme of things for not only increasing the income of farmers but also for making farming a profitable and rewarding vocation, preventing migration by youth to urban centres and making villages an attractive place to live and prosper. In case of the animal husbandry sector, not only new schemes were launched but also earlier ones were, modified, strengthened and fine tuned to yield better results. The unsaid mantra was that no government scheme should continue just for the sake of it. In this light, the Modi government reevaluated the ongoing schemes and only those which were found relevant were retained and re-launched with added vigour. In fact the same process was followed by the NDA government in several other sectors and the animal husbandry was no exception. With a view to accelerate development of the livestock, the NDA government launched the National Livestock Mission (NLM) in 2014-15, in the very first year after assuming office at the centre. The objective of the NLM was to ensure quantitative and qualitative improvement in livestock production systems and capacity building of all stakeholders. It also aimed at promoting sustainable development of livestock sector with focus on improving availability of quality feed and fodder. Being implemented by all states, NLM is covering everything germane to improvement of livestock productivity. It has been supporting projects and initiatives dealing with almost all aspects of livestock from fodder to medicine. The NLM has four Sub-Missions to cater to separate aspects of live stock development. These are — Fodder and Feed Development; Livestock Development; Pig Development in North-Eastern Region; and Skill Development, Technology Transfer and Extension. As the name suggests, the Sub-Mission on Fodder and Feed Development has been addressing the problem of scarcity of animal feed resources. Under the Sub-Mission on Livestock Development, efforts were being made towards productivity enhancement, entrepreneurship development and employment generation. It also dealt with projects related to strengthening of infrastructure of state farms, modernization, automation and bio-security, conservation of threatened breeds, minor livestock development, rural slaughter houses, fallen animals and livestock insurance. The other Sub-Mission dealt with development of piggery in the north-eastern region of the country. This Sub-Mission was adopted in deference to the long-standing demand of the north-eastern states for central assistance for all round development of piggery in the region. The central government for the first time agreed to support the state piggery farms. The whole scheme was aimed at benefiting the people of the region by enhancing livelihood opportunities for them. |
The other advantage of beekeeping from the point of view of employment generation is that it also creates work for people engaged in manufacture and maintenance of appliances and equipment used in the process of beekeeping. According to estimates 75,000 man days are needed for manufacturing appliances for 10,000 bee colonies.
For making the whole project workable and sustainable in the long run, it is essential that most of the equipment used in beekeeping are manufactured and repaired locally. This would provide work for local traders, carpenters, tailors and container makers. The beekeeping thus can contribute its bit in stimulating the whole eco-system of the rural economy, adding to the prosperity of the local populace.
According to Dr Sarswat, the European Union in June 2010 had banned import of Indian honey on account of presence of antibiotics and lead.
“…after lot of efforts made by NBB, EIC, exporters, beekeepers, etc., EU has lifted the ban on import of honey from India with effect from November 1, 2011. However, we all have to make continuous efforts for improving the quality of beehive products by promoting scientific beekeeping in the country.
“Therefore, all beekeepers/farmers/stakeholders, etc., are requested not to use any antibiotics/pesticides/chemicals in their bee colonies/crops. The organic/bio-organic and other environmental friendly technologies which are available in the market and published from time to time in the publications of NBB should be used to protect/treat their bee colonies in case of any problem arising due to diseases/pests etc.,” Sarswat had said in a message to the beekeepers.
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