Honey Industry :-
a) In order to provide an additional business for the people of the hill and remote areas of the state as a means of production and at the same time, to make use of the wasteful resources of nature, the then Bombay Khadi and Village Industries Committee started the honey industry at Mahabaleshwar in the year 1946.
The Apiculture Institute was established in the year 1952 and, after that, the work gained momentum in Maharashtra from the year 1962 with the establishment of the Board. The work of Beekeeping Scheme is going on. The office initially started as Madhamasha Palan Sanstha Mahabaleshwar was renamed as Directorate of Honey Mahabaleshwar as per the head office circular dated 25th July 1994.
A)Objectives behind the establishment of the Directorate of Honey-
1) To start the beekeeping industry by looking at and selecting useful plants and crops and crops beekeeping.
2) Providing scientific honey industry training to selected beneficiaries to start the honey industry.
3) Supplying durable and appropriate size, good quality beekeeping materials to the trained beneficiaries. To provide employment for the unemployed.
4) To create beekeepers who carry out the business in the honey industry on a commercial basis.
5) To build a colony on a large scale and supply it to the needy as per the demand.
6) To increase honey production in the state.
7) To increase production of agricultural crops and orchards by conducting pollination programs by bees.
8) To purchase, process and sell honey and beeswax from beekeepers engaged in the honey industry at guaranteed prices. Trying to get the maximum price for their honey.
9) Production of organic honey by forest area beekeepers.
B) Characteristics of the honey industry :-
1) A typical village industry.
2) No need for space, buildings, electricity and water etc.
3) Complete indigenous technology.
4) Everyone can take this industry from small to big.
5) Supplement to agriculture and horticulture.
6) Just two hours a week is enough.
7) Does not compete with any other industry.
8) Great potential for employment generation.
9) Adequate utilization of wasteful natural resources.
10) Free employment (Raw material through bees is nectar in flowers) and pollen.
11) We can learn a lot from the disciplined life of bees.
C) Advantages of honey industry :-
1) Production of pure honey.
2) Production of pure wax.
3) Increase in crop production due to pollination.
4) Collection of pollen and bee venom.
5) Royal Jelly Collection
6) Conservation and conservation of bees.
7) Help to maintain ecological balance.
8) Conservation of natural resources.
