Kota emerging as strong player in apiculture, says principal secy

IN ORDER TO SUPPORT BEE FARMING, THE STATE GOVERNMENT IS PROVIDING A SUBSIDY OF 40% ON EACH BOX

The Kota division is slowly emerging as a strong player in the field of apiculture or beekeeping, said Neelkamal Darbari, principal secretary of the state agriculture department, in Kota on Wednesday.

“Although beekeeping in Kota is currently at a nascent stage, the district is producing honey to the tune of ₹3 to ₹3.5 crores annually. With the conducive climate, Kota division produces around 375 metric tonnes of honey annually,” she said.

The apiculture practice began in the Kota district in 2003-2004. “Currently, there are 14,000 bee colonies/ boxes in the region, each producing 25-30 kg of honey with 400-450 farmers involved in the process,” Darbari said. “The division has been continuously expanding the practice by adding 1,500-2,000 boxes each year over the last decade,” she added.

In order to support bee farming, the state government is providing a subsidy of 40% on one box (each box or bee colony costs ₹1,600) up to a maximum of 50 boxes to the farmers. Additionally, the government has undertaken efforts to promote apiculture in the region by imparting training and education to the farmers, said Darbari.

Another benefit of apiculture is bee pollination, which improves the quality of cash crops such as mustard and coriander. “In mustard, a yield increase of over 15% has been observed due to the effect of bee pollination,” Darbari added.

She said experts will share their views on beekeeping with the farmers and its surrounding areas at the upcoming Global Rajasthan Agritech Meet in Kota, which will be held in Shivpura from May 24 to May 26.