Honey Village of Kashmir

Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Economy

Why in news?

The village in Kashmir is emerging as a hub for beekeeping, offering people a lucrative livelihood while grappling with challenges in technology and scaling production.

Ramhama – A village in the Budgam district of central Kashmir, has been dubbed the "Honey Village" due to its flourishing apiculture and honey production.

Apiculture is the scientific method of rearing and managing honey bee colonies in artificial hives, also known as beekeeping.

Inspiring pioneer – The movement was pioneered by local beekeeper Mushtaq Ahmad Mir, who started with just 10 bee boxes in 2010.
Growth and success – Mir's success with an annual production of 7,000–8,000 kilograms of honey, has inspired over 100 young people to enter the industry.
Economic impact – Apiculture provides a valuable supplementary source of income for many local people and is a promising sector for boosting the local economy.
Government support – The local honey production has been supported by programs like the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP).

Quick Fact

Current status of Honey production in India

India's honey production is experiencing significant growth, with increase in production by 60% over the last decade, reaching 1.25 lakh metric tonnes in 2024–25.
Export growth – India is a major global producer and exporter, with exports reaching over 107,000 MT in FY24.
Major importers – Includes the USA, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.
Diverse resources – India has a vast potential for honey production due to its diverse range of over 500 flowering plant species.
Key varieties – Popular exported varieties include mustard, eucalyptus, lychee, sunflower, and multi-flora Himalayan honey, etc.
Top honey producing states – Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, and Arunachal Pradesh.
Agro-based industry – Beekeeping is recognized as agro-based industry for rural livelihoods, pollination services, and national income.
Government support – The government is promoting apiculture through schemes like the National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM) to support beekeepers.

References

Nobel Prize in Economics 2025

Van Rakshak Project (VRP)

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