Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said that, in line with Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi’s call to move from the ‘White Revolution’ to the ‘Sweet Revolution,’ the Haryana Government has formulated the ‘Beekeeping Policy’ to promote beekeeping across the state. Under this policy, the government aims to increase the number of beekeepers to 7,750 and raise honey production to 15,500 metric tonnes by 2030.
The Chief Minister was addressing the beekeepers today as the Chief Guest at an event organized by the Haryana Horticulture Department at the Red Bishop Convention Centre in Sector-1 on the occasion of World Bee Day. Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Sh Shyam Singh Rana was also present on the occasion.
Earlier, the Chief Minister went around the stalls showcasing honey and honey-based products set up by beekeepers from various parts of the state and showed keen interest in their exhibits.
Extending his greetings on World Bee Day, Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini said that the state government is fully committed to implementing beekeeping initiatives effectively at the grassroots level. Highlighting the immense potential of the sector, he said several schemes have been launched to promote beekeeping. At present, beekeepers are being provided subsidies of up to 85 percent on bee boxes, bee colonies, and essential equipment.
He further said that, to protect farmers engaged in beekeeping from uncertainties and market fluctuations, the Haryana Government has included beekeeping under the ‘Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana’. Under this scheme, a protected price of Rs 120 per kilogram has been fixed for honey. As a result, farmers no longer face the fear of losses and are assured of a guaranteed income.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister released an incentive amount of Rs 1.02 crore into the accounts of 30 farmers under the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana. He also stated that a decision has been taken to include beekeeping under the Mukhya Mantri Bagwani Bima Yojna to safeguard beekeepers against losses caused by natural disasters. He further informed that more than 3,000 beekeepers from Haryana are registered on the National ‘Madhukranti’ Portal, with Haryana currently ranking first in the country in terms of beekeeper registrations.
He remarked that World Bee Day is dedicated to celebrating a tiny creature that symbolizes a monumental effort toward preserving life on Earth. He said scientists have repeatedly warned humanity that if bees were to become extinct, life itself would be in danger. To raise global awareness about this critical issue, World Bee Day is observed every year on May 20. The Chief Minister said that honey and bees hold special significance in the Vedas, Puranas, and Indian culture. In the Rigveda, honey has been described as a symbol of prosperity, purity, and good health.
The Chief Minister said that bees are not merely protectors of nature but also form the backbone of the agricultural economy. He said that at a time when the world is confronting challenges such as climate change, environmental pollution, and food security, the importance of bees has become even more significant. He expressed concern that bee populations are steadily declining due to the excessive use of pesticides, pollution, deforestation, and climate change. Appealing to the farming community, the Chief Minister urged farmers to adopt beekeeping alongside the cultivation of crops such as mustard, sunflower, cotton, berseem, fruits, and vegetables. He said this would not only increase honey production but also enhance crop yields through cross-pollination by bees.
He said that the importance of honeybees is not confined to agriculture alone. In recent years, beekeeping has emerged as a strong pillar of employment generation and the rural economy. Requiring minimal investment, land, and resources, this enterprise is providing livelihoods to lakhs of people. The Chief Minister said that, besides honey, honeybees produce several other valuable products, including royal jelly, beeswax, propolis, bee pollen, and bee venom. These products are in high demand, especially in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries, and their market value is several times higher than that of honey.
Nayab Singh Saini remarked that the State Government is making continuous efforts to promote beekeeping. To facilitate commercial-scale beekeeping operations, the country’s first Integrated Beekeeping Development Centre, based on Israeli technology, has been established at Ramnagar in Kurukshetra. The centre provides beekeeping training to farmers and also houses a honey trading Center. To date, nearly 800 tons of honey have been traded through the facility. In addition, the centre offers training in honey extraction, storage, processing, and marketing at both national and international levels.
The Chief Minister noted that although a large portion of Haryana’s land is devoted to agriculture resulting in a relative shortage of forests and orchards, the state’s progressive farmers have made significant contributions to the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission. Haryana currently produces around 5,000 metric tons of honey. He emphasized that the government has identified horticulture, including beekeeping, as a key pillar of agricultural diversification. In 2014, the area under horticulture in the state was 1,17,000 acres; today, it has more than doubled to 2,73,000 acres.
Nayab Singh Saini observed that landholdings are becoming increasingly fragmented in the present era. In such a scenario, beekeeping offers farmers an opportunity to earn higher profits, as it requires very little land. He stated that even landless individuals, people with limited education, the illiterate, and women can successfully undertake this enterprise after receiving proper training. In several states, women are actively involved in honey production and marketing through Self-Help Groups. Likewise, in Haryana, young entrepreneurs can enhance their income and help create a distinct identity for the state by launching honey-based startups and brands. To support this initiative, the Haryana Government will provide financial assistance and technical guidance with the objective of developing Haryana into a “Honey Hub.”
On this occasion, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini honored 11 progressive beekeepers by presenting each with an incentive of Rs 11,000 along with a certificate of appreciation. He also released a book titled “Haryana Strides Ahead in Horticulture”, published by the Department of Horticulture.
Earlier, speaking on this occasion Haryana Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, Sh Shyam Singh Rana, said that Haryana is an agrarian state that makes a significant contribution to the national economy. He said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini, the state government is consistently working to enhance farmers’ incomes and has introduced several schemes toward this objective. Haryana is the first state in the country to procure 24 crops at the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
He further stated that the government has ensured the availability of fertilizers for agricultural fields and secured remunerative prices for farmers, thereby preventing any inconvenience to them. With the twin objectives of increasing farmers’ incomes and protecting public health, the state is actively promoting organic and natural farming practices. As part of this initiative, laboratories are also being established in 10 districts of the State.
Present on this occasion were former Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Sh Gian Chand Gupta, BJP State Vice President Smt. Banto Kataria, newly elected Mayor Sh Shyam Lal Bansal, Additional Chief Secretary of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department Sh Vijayendra Kumar, Director General of Horticulture Department Dr. Ranbir Singh, HOD (Special) of the Department of Horticulture Dr. Arjun Saini, Vice-Chancellor of CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar Dr. B.R. Kamboj, OSD to the Chief Minister Sh. Virender Singh Badkhalsa and Media Secretary to the Chief Minister Sh Praveen Atre, along with beekeepers and experts from across the state.
