ICAR’s Pollinator Gardens Project is ready for Rollout

Following the successful establishment of a pollinator garden in Uttarakhand, the All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research is likely to establish a pollinator garden in Punjab and is ready to roll out across the country if funded by the government.

Conservation of Wild Species of Honey Bees

This could aid in the conservation of wild honey bee species. The first AICRP pollinator garden has already been established on 40 acres at the Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology in Pantnagar, Uttarakhand. According to sources, the Punjab Horticulture Department has expressed interest and has agreed in principle to establish a pollinator garden on approximately 20 acres.

Pollinator gardens and other artificial nesting sites aid in the conservation of wild pollinators, which prefer natural habitats. Because honey bees and other pollinators (pollinator diversity) help increase yield in many agriculture and horticulture crops, ICAR has prescribed a different number of bee colonies per hectare for optimum pollination.

According to Balraj Singh, AICRP coordinator on "Honey Bee and Pollinator," there are currently 25 AICRP centres in the country that are actively involved in beekeeping and pollination research. More such gardens can be established if states contribute funding, he says.

Many species of bees aid in pollination, which is critical for many crops, particularly seed production, and their conservation is critical.

A senior agriculture ministry official stated at a recent national beekeeping conference organized by the National Bee Board (NBB) in collaboration with cooperatives NAFED, TRIFED, and NDDB that the implementation of the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) will be a huge step in achieving the country's 'Sweet Revolution.'

Value Addition

The scheme will not only address infrastructure gaps in the honey-making industry, but it will also assist marginal beekeepers in organizing themselves to deal with honey adulteration. The NBB has already launched the Madhukranti portal for honey and other beehive products such as bee pollen, bee wax, bee venom, and propolis traceability.

"It is recommended that, in addition to honey production, other beehive products such as royal jelly, bee pollen, bee wax, bee venom, and propolis be produced to increase beekeepers' income," said NBB Executive Director NK Patle.