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 Alfalfa Berseem and other Clovers Vetches Broad Beans Dwarf beans Kidney beans Runner beans Other pulses (Pigeon pea, etc.)

% increase in yields 23.4 to 19,733.3 23.4 to 33,150 39 to 20,000 6.8 to 90.1 2.8 to 20.7 500 to 600 20.6 to 1,100 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.

Crops

Area under insect-pollinated major crops in the country( average of 6 years2001-02 to 2006-07)

Area in Million hects.

Avg. Avg. No. of B. C. / ha. Reqd.

Crops

Area in Million hects.

Avg. Avg. No. of B. C. / ha. Reqd.

Tl. No. of B.C. Reqd. (Million)

Tl. No. of B.C. Reqd. (Million)

Gram Pigeon pea Other pulses

6.78 3.47 12.23

4 5 4

27.12 17.35 48.92

Cotton Jute & Mesta Sunhemp Tobacco

8.50 0.98 0.41 0.36

4 4 5 4

34.00 3.92 2.05 1.44

Total Pulses
Groundnut Mustard Sunflower

22.48
6.23 6.00 1.91 5 6 5

93.39
31.15 36.00 9.55

(0.07)* Fruits Vegetables 5.32 6.98 6 5 31.92 34.90 (1.75)**

SubTotal
Other Oilseeds

14.14
8.82 5

76.70
44.10

Total

22.55

73.71

Total Oilseeds

22.96

120.80

Grand Total 67.99

287.90

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

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 1 Total colony requirement -Existing beekeepers colonies Details of items and rate of assistance 20,000 (@ 4 colonies per hect.) 20,000 (@ 500/- colony transportation / migration cost) Expenditure involved (Rs. in lakhs) 100.00

Capacity building programmes (a) Farmers/ beekeepers trainings each of 10 (@ Rs. 750/- day + a batch of 25 participants for one week transport) - NHM norms within state ( total 250 participants) (b) Out of state each of a batch of 25 participants for one week (125 trainees) 5 (@ Rs. 1000/- participants/ day + transp.) - NHM norms

15.00

10.00 5.00

3 4

Publications/ publicity/pamphlets etc. Seminar/ workshops - NHM norms (A) District level (B) State level 5 (@ Rs. 2.00 lakh per event) 5 (@ Rs. 3.00 lakhs/event)

10.00 15.00 155.00

5 6 7

Total Supervision, monitoring, secretariat, etc. Grand total @ 15% of total cost

23.25 178.25

Economical viability
Expenditure proposed Items Income to be generated Income generation (Rs. in lakhs) 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. 2. Capacity building trainings, publications, seminars, etc. 78.25

1. Yield enhancement @ 300.00 30% on average yield of 7 qtls. / ha. = 10000 quintals (2*5000 ha.) @ Rs. 3000/- quintals.

2. Honey production during crop season @ 10 kg/ colony (20000*10 kg) 200 tonnes @ Rs. 80000/- tonne.

160.00

Total

178.25

460.00

Thanks.