JANUARY 19(Gulistan News Tv) : The district’s apiaries are buzzing with unprecedented activity as honey production soars to 812 quintals in early 2024, surpassing last financial year’s 794.64 quintals, marking a watershed moment in Baramulla’s agricultural transformation and youth employment landscape.
The success story is written across 13,277 bee colonies – comprising 12,827 Apis mellifera and 450 Apis cerana – that now dot the Baramulla. Under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), the district has witnessed the establishment of 55 new beekeeping units in 2023-24, each housing 35 colonies. The momentum continued with 60 additional units under the Aspirational District Award scheme offering an 80% subsidy, while 20 more units emerged through the Capex Budget. Building on this success, 57 new units with 35 colonies each have already been established in the current year.
“These figures represent more than just honey production,” explains Rajinder Singh, District Apiculture Officer Baramulla. “They reflect a fundamental shift in how our educated youth view agricultural entrepreneurship. Each colony is a stepping stone toward self-reliance.”
‘The high demand for organic honey, coupled with government support, is making apiculture a lucrative sector,” he added. Local success stories are emerging rapidly. Farooq Ahmad, who started with a single unit under HADP, has now expanded to multiple colonies. “The initial government support was crucial,” he says, inspecting his thriving colonies. “Today, I’m earning a sustainable income and planning further expansion.” The growth extends beyond primary production, spurring allied activities in processing, packaging, and marketing. The district administration’s continued support through innovative schemes and subsidies has transformed beekeeping from a supplementary activity into a primary source of income for many educated youth. As spring approaches, Baramulla’s apiculture sector stands poised for further growth, establishing itself as a model for agricultural entrepreneurship and sustainable employment in the region. Gulistan News Tv
