Apiculture department launched scheme to boost apiculture

The Karnataka state government has launched a scheme to significantly boost beekeeping, recognizing its potential for farmer welfare and agricultural advancement. This initiative, spearheaded by the Horticulture Department, allocates substantial funds annually to provide comprehensive support to aspiring beekeepers across the state.

The core objectives of the scheme are multifaceted: to train farmers and encourage widespread adoption of beekeeping, to enhance pollination in crops thereby improving yields, to create a valuable supplementary income source for farmers, and to promote and disseminate advancements in beekeeping technology.

Farmers from all backgrounds are eligible for the training, with a particular focus on those in urban and town areas. Training sessions, limited to 30 participants each, are conducted in collaboration with beekeeping cooperative societies and NGOs. Expert trainers from agricultural institutions, retired officials, progressive farmers, and other specialists impart knowledge over a two-day period, combining theoretical lessons with practical demonstrations at apiaries.

A key incentive is the provision of a daily training allowance to beneficiaries. Furthermore, those who complete the training and wish to start beekeeping receive significant subsidies on essential equipment like bee boxes, bee colonies, and stands. General category farmers receive a 75% subsidy, while Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe farmers benefit from a 90% subsidy, aiming to make beekeeping accessible and affordable.

For those looking to establish larger operations, the scheme offers a subsidy of up to ₹75,000 for setting up private apiaries, provided a minimum of 14 bee colonies are established