Role of honey Bees/Beekeeping
in enhancing productivity of
pulses (A3P/NFSM)
08th May, 2010.
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)
(2)
(3)
(4)
Land
Labour
Capital and
Management

Adoption of Apiculture is also required as fifth (5th) Input
to 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.
Potential of Yield increase in various legume crops due to bee
pollination
Legume/ pulses crops
% increase in yields
Alfalfa
23.4 to 19,733.3
Berseem and other Clovers
23.4 to 33,150
Vetches
39 to 20,000
Broad Beans
6.8 to 90.1
Dwarf beans
2.8 to 20.7
Kidney beans
500 to 600
Runner beans
20.6 to 1,100
Other pulses (Pigeon pea, etc.)
28.7-73.8



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.
10-15 Kg Honey / colony will be produced additionally during the crop season.
Area under insect-pollinated major crops in the country( average of 6 years2001-02 to 2006-07)
Crops
Area in Million hects.
Avg.
Avg. No.
of B. C. /
ha.
Reqd.
Crops
Tl. No. of
B.C.
Reqd.
(Million)
Area in Million hects.
Avg.
Avg. No.
of B. C. /
ha.
Reqd.
Tl. No. of B.C.
Reqd.
(Million)
Gram
6.78
4
27.12
Cotton
8.50
4
34.00
Pigeon pea
3.47
5
17.35
Jute & Mesta
0.98
4
3.92
Other pulses
12.23
4
48.92
Sunhemp
0.41
5
2.05
93.39
Tobacco
0.36
4
1.44
Total Pulses
22.48
Groundnut
6.23
5
31.15
Mustard
6.00
6
36.00
Fruits
5.32
6
31.92
Sunflower
1.91
5
9.55
Vegetables
6.98
5
34.90
SubTotal
Other Oilseeds
Total Oilseeds
14.14
8.82
22.96
(0.07)*
76.70
5
(1.75)**
44.10
Total
22.55
73.71
120.80
Grand Total
67.99
287.90
* & **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. Activities
No
Details of items and rate of
assistance
1
Total colony requirement
20,000 (@ 4 colonies per
hect.)
-
-Existing beekeepers’ colonies
20,000 (@ 500/- colony
transportation / migration
cost)
100.00
2
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
Expenditure involved
(Rs. in lakhs)
15.00
10.00
3
Publications/ publicity/pamphlets etc.
4
Seminar/ workshops - NHM norms
(A) District level
5 (@ Rs. 2.00 lakh per event)
10.00
(B) State level
5 (@ Rs. 3.00 lakhs/event)
15.00
5
Total
6
Supervision, monitoring, secretariat, etc.
7
Grand total
5.00
155.00
@ 15% of total cost
23.25
178.25
Economical viability
Expenditure proposed
Items
Income to be generated
Funds
Items
proposed
(Rs.
in
lakhs)
1.Transportation/
100.00
migration cost of 20,000
colonies @ Rs. 500/colony. Total cost of
colonies & hives would
be Rs. 600.00 lakhs.
1. Yield enhancement @
30% on average yield of 7
qtls. / ha. = 10000 quintals
(2*5000 ha.) @ Rs. 3000/quintals.
2. Capacity building
trainings, publications,
seminars, etc.
78.25
2. Honey production during
crop season @ 10 kg/
colony (20000*10 kg) 200
tonnes @ Rs. 80000/tonne.
Total
178.25
Income
generation
(Rs. in lakhs)
300.00
160.00
460.00
Thanks.