Gujarat’s ‘Mission Bee’ programme boosts honey production among Amul dairy farmers

  Under the “Mission Bee” programme in Gujarat, 284 milk producers associated with Amul Dairy have produced about 16000 kilograms of honey, stated an official release from the state government, Saturday.

Earlier this year,  the Kheda District Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union at Anand enrolled 284 farmers engaged in animal husbandry in Anand, Kheda, and Mahisagar districts under the Mission Bee programme launched by the Horticulture Department in 2022-23.

The ‘Mission Bee’ program aims to motivate farmers to adopt beekeeping. The initiative provides guidance, training, and support to improve the state’s honey production, processing, packaging, and marketing. Each participant was given ₹10,000, 10 bee boxes, and a honey extractor for every five members. The release added that these 284 farmers have set a new standard by producing an impressive 16,000 kg of honey to date.

Amul Dairy’s processing and packaging unit has already processed around 2 tonnes of honey under this project. Additionally, the Animal Husbandry Farmers associated with Amul Dairy earn additional income through direct sales. Remarkably, within the first year, these farmers have recovered about 75 per cent of their initial investment in beekeeping.

To begin beekeeping, a bee colony, a bee box, and a honey extractor are required. The cost for ten bee colonies, one box, and one honey extractor ranges from ₹60,000 to ₹70,000. Besides honey, additional income can be earned from producing wax, royal jelly, bee venom, and gum. Beekeeping has created substantial self-employment opportunities in rural areas, providing extra income alongside farming and supporting the Prime Minister’s goal of doubling farmers’ income. Additionally, bee cross-pollination enhances crop yields and improves fruit and seed quality while also benefiting the environment, the release added.

In 2022-23, the ‘Mission Bee’ program allocated ₹ 53 lakh to Junagadh Agricultural University for a bee breeding and clinic project. In 2024-25, Amul Dairy’s project received ₹127.43 lakh in assistance.