Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Oct 28: Due to the fear of coronavirus infection and dwindling urban employment opportunities, the number of people entering agriculture is going up. In particular, the educated youngsters are getting attracted towards the bright prospects offered by beekeeping. There has been an increase in the number of applications being received by the department of horticulture since the last two months, for either the boxes for beekeeping or for training.

Already, 7297 apiculturists including the traditional ones are undertaking apliary in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. This number will go up by 40 per cent this year. Over 450 applications have been received by the department for boxes and training in beekeeping.

There was an increase in the demand for this activity every year even in the past, but this year the demand has been abnormally high. Apiaries help the farmers to get additional income and it also is conducive to improve harvest. The young agriculturists, who are growing paddy, areca nut, coconut, black pepper etc have now added a new activity, apiculture, to their list of activities.

The horticulture department officials said that in the twin districts, 462 under the National Horticultural Mission, 108 under zilla panchayat, and 452 from state zone scheme were given the apiary boxes. But this time, the number of applicants has crossed 400. The farmers used to contact the officials after the monsoon but this time they were seen enquiring about them even before that date. Even those who have returned for good from Mumbai, Bengaluru and Dubai, have evinced interest in this activity, the officials stated.

Bhuvaneshwari, deputy director of horticulture, Udupi, says that under the Madhuvan apiculture scheme, Rs 4,500 is required to acquire a family of bees, box, and stand. For general category candidates, there is a subsidy of 75 per cent whereas the subsidy is 90 per cent for SC/ST. Likewise, under the National Horticulture Mission there is a provision to obtain 50 boxes along with a family of bees. Even for apiaries there is subsidy, she stated.

Dakshina Kannada deputy director of horticulture, H R Naik, says that there has been an increase in the number of people undertaking beekeeping from year to year. He says that pure honey commands a price of about Rs 500 per kg in the market and the product has good demand locally, in cities, and foreign countries because of its medicinal properties apart from several health benefits.