The scientific practice of Beekeeping (Apiculture) has the potential to promote eco-friendly and sustainable agriculture along with higher yields leading to increase in income levels of farmers. Hence, just like White Revolution, the Sweet Revolution can act as a major tool to promote socio-economic development.
Beekeeping has great potential for the small and marginal farmers, landless labourers etc. on account of following reasons:
- Increases crop yields by 20-30% through cross pollination.
- Additional source of income for paid pollination service
- Less capital Intensive and hence can be practiced by poor farmers
- Requires no land and can be practiced by landless labourers
- Other products such as bee pollen, bee-venom costlier than honey
- Nutritional Security: more than a third of the global food basket is comprised of bee pollinated crops
- Growing demand for honey in overseas market and hence scope for more export earnings
Hence, the Government has launched Honey Mission to harness potential of Sweet Revolution. Going forward, beekeeping should be considered as input of agriculture, which could enhance efficacy of other inputs and accordingly training should be provided to farmers.