Honeybee hives in great demand for pollination in Baramati

Farmers in Baramati taluk are facing a short supply of honeybee hives that are being extensively used here for pollinating crops like pomegranate and onion seeds.
India has the world's largest honeybee population.
Honeybees have been normally used for harvesting honey and not much for pollinating crops for better production, but this has gained a lot of popularity here, of late.
A pilot project -- Madhu Sandesh -- initiated by association of pesticide firms CropLife India, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Agriculture Development Trust's Krishi Vighan Kendra (KVK), Baramati, in November 2015 has changed the lives of farmers here, who have ever since started earning handsomely.

The success stories of pomegranate growers and onion seed producers associated with this project have encouraged many farmers in Baramati to pollinate their crops using honeybees and harvest better yield.
In fact, they are now willing to pay more for honeybee hives.

Pomegranate grower from Daund village, D D Baravkar, who has received training under the project, said: "Pomegranate yields have almost doubled after the crops were pollinated by bees. Even the quality of fruit has improved to an extent that there is more demand from exporters."
Four honeybee hives, which were kept on pomegranate orchard spread across three acres, have not only improved the productivity of pomegranates but also onion seed production undertaken on half an acre, he said.

"I had taken honeybee hives on rent. The rent was Rs 1,500 for each bee hive. I have decided to keep more hives but there is not much supply. I am even willing to pay more for them," he said.
Baravkar said that he harvested 7.5 tonnes pomegranate on three acres this year as against 4 tonnes last year. Even the cost on pesticide spray has come down.
Another pomegranate farmer Mahesh Bhagat from Korhale Bk village said the fruit output has gone up to 12 tonnes from 7-8 tonnes from 2.5 acres.
Seeing more demand for honeybee hives, Bhagat has taken requisite training to become a beekeeper from Baramati KVK.

The pilot project started with 250 beehives supplied by CropLife India to Baramati KVK to support 150 pomegranate growers and 34 onion seed producers, Baramati KVK Head Scientist Syed Ali told PTI.
Stating that success stories have encouraged more farmers to approach them with a demand for honeybee hives. "Making available more beehives is not a problem, but the issue is about providing hands on training to farmers and helping them to follow good management practices to ensure beehives are kept in good hygienic conditions. For this, more extension staff is required," Ali said.
Ali said that training is being imparted to farmers on

when and how to use pesticides without affecting honeybees.
"They were told to be cautious and avoid spraying when bees are foraging. This training helped them to yield good results," Ali said.
ICAR's project co-ordinator for honeybees R K Thakur said that there is more focus on promoting honeybees for pollination purpose with the government targeting to double farmers income by 2022.
Honeybees are the most efficient pollinators of various crops and India is endowed with greatest biodiversity as far as honeybees species are concerned. Normally,'Apis melligera species' of honeybees are reared in hives for pollination purpose, he said.
Thakur said pollination by honeybees help enhance quantity and quality of several other crops like oilseeds such as mustard and safflower, pigeon pea, apple, mango, citrus and some vegetables as well.

The ICAR official mentioned that "there has been 34.9 per cent increase in pomegranate yields and 70 per cent in onion seed production in Maharasthra, 28 per cent in apple yields in Himachal Pradesh."
However, integrated pest management is important for beekeeping, which is expected to become big enterprise in the coming years, he added.
It may be noted that after the successful results, the CropLife India has got further extension to continue the pilot project to promote pollination through honeybee hives in more crops and involving more farmers in the taluk.