NEW DELHI: India’s Honey Mission Programme is sparking a “Sweet Revolution” through a rapid rise in bee farming and bee wax production. The country, ranked eighth in global honey production, is making significant strides towards self-sufficiency in these industries, with a notable threefold increase in production over the past two decades.
The aim is to reduce India’s reliance on imported bee wax, which is vital for various industries, including pharmaceuticals, food, textiles, and cosmetics. The Honey Mission Programme is seen as a way to empower farmers while boosting their economic growth. As more farmers are encouraged to take up bee farming alongside their regular agricultural activities, both their incomes and lives are expected to benefit.
India’s organic honey, produced in regions like West Bengal, is in high demand internationally. The programme has already made significant progress, with thousands of bee boxes, colonies, and toolkits distributed to beekeepers across the country. So far, a total of 200,000 bee boxes have been provided to farmers, aiding the growth of the sector.
The ongoing “Sweet Revolution” aims to replicate the success of India’s White Revolution, which greatly increased milk production starting in the 1970s. With the rising self-sufficiency in honey and bee wax, India’s bee farming industry is set for continued growth, enhancing both domestic production and export potential.
