Dr Abhilaksh Likhi, Additional Secretary, DA&FW, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Director, Vamnicom, Dr Hema Yadav inaugurated the workshop on the ‘Strengthening of Export Potential of Honey’ and launched innovative products developed by start-ups, FPOs and entrepreneurs in Pune recently.
Dr Likhi launched bee wax products manufactured by FPOs during the workshop. It was also decided to establish a cooperative honey project at VAMNICOM, Pune. Experiences were also shared by honey processors/ exporters and FPOs / agri start-ups about future strategies for export promotion of honey.
Speaking on this occasion, Likhi focused on organizations hand holding one another for quality and quantitative assessment of honey and value-added products and to bring technology for the benefit of small and marginal farmers.
The workshop was attended by stakeholders from NDDB, NAFED, APEDA entrepreneurs, and startups working in the Honey-Bee ecosystem. Scores of participants from PAN India took part and shared their views about the honey production marketing, export opportunities in it, informs a press release.
Experts from NAFED, MANAGE Hyderabad, NDDB Gujarat, APEDA New Delhi, MSK FB, Mahabaleshwar gave inputs regarding technology intervention for increasing honey productivity, supply chain management, traceability and necessary compliances to export the honey and honey value added products. The honey products may be included in the mid-day meal which will boost the usage and awareness about the importance of honey value added products.
Director VAMNICOM Dr Hema Yadav gave inputs about Cooperative handholding for making the honey environment resilient and innovative in all benchmarks which can lead to export encouragement.
At the end of the session, stakeholders shared their views, challenges and further handholding from Government, technology people for good quality inputs in the form of bee colonies, relaxation for movement of honey inputs as their shelf life is very less, an autonomous organization body to come up for service industry of honey and honey bee insurance.
It is worthy of mention that honey exports have huge potential and especially in the wake of the COVID19 pandemic its consumption has gone up globally as an effective immunity booster and a healthier alternative to sugar.
There was general agreement that more such workshops should be organized for providing and enabling the interface of Agri-startups, FPOs and Cooperatives.
At present, about 12,699 Beekeepers and 19.34 lakhs honey bees colonies are registered with the National Bee Board and India is producing about 1,33,200 Metric tonnes of Honey (2021-22 2nd advance estimate). India is one of the major honey exporting countries in the World and has exported 74,413 MT of Honey worth Rs. 1221.17 Crores during 2021-22.