The Hindu Business Line : KVIC hikes honey production target to 70,000 tonnes

THE Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has set a target for increasing honey production from 35,000 tonnes to 70,000 tonnes by 2005-06, under its `Honey Mission' programme.

Participating in the `Honey Festival', organised by the South Kanara Bee-Keepers' Co-operative Society Ltd (SKBKCS), Puttur, and KVIC, under the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), here on Friday, the Special Officer (Bee-Keeping), Khadi and Village Industries Board (KVIB), Bangalore, Mr N.M. Biradar, said the board has planned various programmes in this regard.

KVIB is the implementing agency of KVIC programmes in Karnataka.

The President of Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Cooperative Ltd (Campco), Mr B. Nagaraj Shetty, who released the special edition of Madhu Prapancha, said that agriculture produces such as arecanut and coconut are the mainstay of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.

Fluctuation in the prices of these produces has affected farmers here. Hence, Campco has spoken to the State Government on market intervention scheme, and the price of arecanut is likely to be fixed at Rs 60 a kg. Farmers should take up apiculture in a big way, as there is enough demand for honey in the country, he said.

Dr Diaz Thomas, Assistant Director of Central Bee Research Station, Pune, said that farmers should think of value-added honey products, and urged the beekeepers society to take the lead in this regard.

The KVIC has identified the society as the cluster for development of apiculture and honey trade in this region.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication

Stories in this Section
Govt-industry tie spurs R&D for CFC substitutes

Canada relaxes immigration norms

Good ride for cars in Nov; sales up 41 pc

Industrial growth slips to 5.4 per cent in Oct

Air quality improver

Fertiliser cos join hands to talk terms with Petronet LNG

PM visualises a single currency for S. Asia

India may benefit from proposed EU licensing norms

India must improve infrastructure, cut red tape, says LG executive

BPCL moves to sell products thru e-choupal network