Double honey production to increase farmer income

 “We will launch a National Bee-keeping and Honey Mission to ensure additional returns to the farmers. We will double the honey production from the present 115,000 MT by developing infrastructural facilities and providing marketing support.” — Promise in 2019 BJP Manifesto

An evaluation of the research information below indicates that:
1. The National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) was launched by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare in India during 2019-20. There is no evidence to establish whether it yielded in additional returns to farmers.

2. The honey production has increased from 115,000 MT to 142,000 MT which falls 77% short of the promise of doubling honey production in the country.

It can therefore be concluded that:
The Government’s objectively verifiable performance is 23.5%, as 23.5% of the proposed honey production has been achieved.

Research

1. The ‘2023-24 1st Advanced Estimates for Area and Production of Horticultural Crops’ (8 March 2024, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India), the production of honey in India is 142,000 MT.

2. According to PIB (20 May 2023, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India), India is producing about 1,33,200 Metric Tonnes (MTs) of Honey as per 2021-22- 3rd Advanced Estimate.

3. Question No. 3239 (Unstarred), Lok Sabha 17, Session 11, 21 March 2023, 138 projects have been approved/ sanctioned for funding so far under National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) in the country. Out of which, one (1) project in Odisha, six (6) projects in Tamil Nadu and two (2) projects in Maharashtra have been sanctioned under NBHM till date.

Links

  1. https://www.loksatta.com/maharashtra/in-2020-21-india-exported-59999-metric-tonnes-of-honey-zws-70-2582243/
  2. https://www.loksatta.com/sampadkiya/features/manghar-village-in-maharashtra-made-honey-revolution-now-patgaon-has-become-a-honey-village-ssb-93-4063529/
  3. https://sansad.in/getFile/loksabhaquestions/qhindi/1711/AU3239.pdf?source=pqals
  4. https://agriwelfare.gov.in/sites/default/files/2023_24_First_Advance_Estimates.xlsx
  5. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1925911

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