Role of honey Bees/Beekeeping in enhancing productivity of pulses (A3P/NFSM) 08 th May, Dr. B. L. Sarswat Executive Director National Bee Board

Beekeeping / Apiculture as fifth important input for overall development of Agriculture in a sustainable manner. The main Inputs required for Agriculture are: (1)Land (2)Labour (3)Capital and (4)Management  Adoption of Apiculture is also required as fifth (5 th ) Input t o get higher yields and quality production in cross pollinated Agricultural and Horticultural crops.  The efficacy of other four inputs used in Agriculture, in some crops, is directly related to this input.

Legume/ pulses crops% increase in yields Alfalfa23.4 to 19,733.3 Berseem and other Clovers23.4 to 33,150 Vetches39 to 20,000 Broad Beans6.8 to 90.1 Dwarf beans2.8 to 20.7 Kidney beans500 to 600 Runner beans20.6 to 1,100 Other pulses (Pigeon pea, etc.)  Bee pollination results not only in yield increase but also improvement in quality of produce.  Hence beekeeping should be treated as 5th input which regulates other four inputs.  Kg Honey / colony will be produced additionally during the crop season. Potential of Yield increase in various legume crops due to bee pollination

Area under insect-pollinated major crops in the country( average of 6 years to ) CropsArea in Million hects.CropsArea in Million hects. Avg.Avg. No. of B. C. / ha. Reqd. Tl. No. of B.C. Reqd. (Million) Avg.Avg. No. of B. C. / ha. Reqd. Tl. No. of B.C. Reqd. (Million) Gram Cotton Pigeon pea Jute & Mesta Other pulses Sunhemp Total Pulses Tobacco Groundnut (0.07)* Mustard Fruits Sunflower Vegetables SubTotal (1.75)** Other Oilseeds Total Total Oilseeds Grand Total * & **Calculated by taking only 5% area for seed production. Note – If migratory / commercial beekeeping is taken into account, about 200 million bee colonies in hives will be required & produce 10 million tonnes of honey, valued Rs. 8,00,000/- million.

Constraints in Beekeeping 1). Lack of the following: Awareness about yield increase in crops by BK through pollination; Adequate laboratories for disease prevention, control & analysis and quality testing of products; Institutional support for beekeeping in terms of bank loans, etc; 2.Indiscriminate use of insecticides, pesticides, weedicides etc.; 3. A non-traditional newly introduced industry; 4. Tribals and illiterates from forests and remote rural areas are generally involved; 5.Flowering of plants and secretion of nectar and production of pollen – sole food of honeybees, is influenced by climatic conditions; 6.The behaviour and life cycle of honeybees depend completely on climatic and floristic conditions, which vary from place to place; and 7.Poor quality control for production of honey.

Pollination support through beekeeping in NCIPM Districts under A3P/NFSM. Area & crops proposed/ to be covered- 5,000 Hects. of pigeon pea & chickpea. S. No ActivitiesDetails of items and rate of assistance Expenditure involved (Rs. in lakhs) 1Total colony requirement20,000 4 colonies per hect.) - -Existing beekeepers’ colonies20, /- colony transportation / migration cost) Capacity building programmes (a) Farmers/ beekeepers trainings each of a batch of 25 participants for one week within state ( total 250 participants) 10 Rs. 750/- day + transport) - NHM norms (b) Out of state – each of a batch of 25 participants for one week (125 trainees) 5 Rs. 1000/- participants/ day + transp.) - NHM norms Publications/ publicity/pamphlets etc Seminar/ workshops - NHM norms (A) District level 5 Rs lakh per event)10.00 (B) State level5 Rs lakhs/event) Total Supervision, monitoring, secretariat, 15% of total cost Grand total

Economical viability Expenditure proposed Income to be generated ItemsFunds proposed (Rs. in lakhs) ItemsIncome generation (Rs. in lakhs) 1.Transportation/ migration cost of 20,000 Rs. 500/- colony. Total cost of colonies & hives would be Rs lakhs Yield 30% on average yield of 7 qtls. / ha. = quintals (2*5000 Rs. 3000/- quintals Capacity building trainings, publications, seminars, etc Honey production during crop 10 kg/ colony (20000*10 kg) 200 Rs /- tonne Total

Thanks.