Agriculture Ministry together with TRIFED Conducted a National Conclave on ‘Wild and Forest Honey’

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, in collaboration with the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED), hosted a National Conclave on "Wild and Forest Honey.” Sweet Revolution has enabled tribal beekeepers to command 1.5 to 2 times the previous price.

NBB has identified 100 FPOs of Beekeepers/ Honey Producers, 14 of which have been allotted to TRIFED, which is promoting the production of wild honey through its "Van Dhan Programme" being implemented in 27 States and 307 Districts.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has organised a special campaign in Budhni, Hisar, Anantapur, and Biswanath Chariali through Farm Machinery Training and Testing Institutes. Various agricultural machinery equipment was demonstrated in this programme. In addition, there was a webinar between innovators and industry at the Northern Region Farm Machinery Training and Testing Institute in Hisar (Haryana).

In terms of nutrition, a special programme called Nutri-Cereals has been included in the National Food Security Mission to promote Nutri cereal crops. The United Nations has declared 2023 to be the International Year of Millets, thanks to the efforts of the Indian government. West Bengal also organised demonstrations and farmer training on improved jute production technology.

The programme was launched alongside the inauguration of the office building and Farmers Training Centre in the Coconut Development Board's demonstration and seed production farm in Tripura by the Minister for Agriculture. K Shanmugasundaram, Member of Parliament for Pollachi, inaugurated the Centre of Excellence in Dhali, Tamil Nadu.

As part of the programme, a 3-day virtual trade fair on coconut products was launched, showcasing a diverse range of processed products from various parts of the coconut. A State / District / Block level seminar was held in Kavarathi, with 200 tribal women participating.

The Directorate of Cashewnut and Cocoa Development, in collaboration with the Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Shimoga, hosted a massive Cashew and Cocoa Fair at the KNUAHS campus in Navile, Shimoga. CAMPCO, Cadbury, and the development departments were among the stakeholders who took part in the programme. An exhibition was also set up, depicting live cashew and cocoa products, MIDH activities, and so on.

ICAR Institutes have organized a variety of events at over 70 ICAR Research Institutes, with over 25,000 farmers and agri-entrepreneurs participating. Various institutes organized farmer-scientist interactions on Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati, Natural & Organic farming, promotion of pulses & oilseeds, diversification through the introduction of high-value crops & integration of horticulture, livestock, and fish, as well as bio-fortified crops.

Aside from Kisan Melas and farmer-scientist interactions, animal health camps, exhibitions, and visits to different demonstration units by the farmers were also organized by different institutes. Various events on Millets including farmer- scientist-startup interactions were organized at farm and village locations.

The startups shared their entrepreneurial experiences with regard to innovative machines developed by his startup and offered to farmers at a low cost. Interactions were also held on millet-based product processing and marketing, as well as the growing public demand for millets to encourage farmers to cultivate millet crops. ICAR's 'Kisan Bhagidari Prathmikta Hamari' campaign was a success, with farmers, startups, FPOs, and other stakeholders participating.

Ministry of Rural Development hosted a webinar on integrated watershed development, its contribution to the sustainable use of natural resources, and improving farmers' livelihoods and incomes, while DAY-NRLM hosted a lecture and shared the experiences of Agriculture/Animal Husbandry sakhis.