New Delhi, Sept 23 (KNN) In order to further improve the Indian agriculture and beekeeping, more focus should be on small and marginal beekeepers and small entrepreneurs, said Sudhashu Singh, Director, International Rice Research Institute South Asia Regional Centre, (ISARC) Varanasi.

He was speaking at the national workshop on role of agri start-ups in honey value chain organised by National Bee Board (NBB) in collaboration with the National Seed Research and Training Centre (NSRTC) at NSRTC Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh on Thursday.

Singh said that the Government is committed towards increasing the overall potential of beekeeping industry in the country, including supporting the honey startups and FPOs in beekeeping.

“Promotion and formation of FPOs is the first step for converting Krishi into Atmanirbhar Krishi and for this he assured that implementation of NBHM scheme will bring the revolutionary changes by strengthening the institutional framework in beekeeping sector and information & promotion of Honey startups,” he said.

N. K. Patle, Additional Commissioner (Horticulture) and Executive Director, NBB emphasised on the significance of implementation of NBHM scheme and its role in strengthening the infrastructure facilities for honey collection, storage, processing, testing & branding centres, which ultimately enhance the potential of beekeeping in the nation.

Beekeepers, honey Startups and FPOs, stakeholders in beekeeping, officials fr0m various Ministries/ Government Organizations/ Institutes, State Departments of Horticulture, State Agricultural Universities (SAUs)/ Central Agricultural Universities (CAUs), etc participated in the workshop.  (KNN Bureau)