Sweet Revolution in India - Mithi Kranti Or Honey Mission

Sweet Revolution in India also known as Honey Mission or Mithi Kranti is launched to increase the promotion of the development of scientific beekeeping and production of honey and related products to double the farmers’ income. In the context of the recent developments, the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has launched the country’s first Mobile Honey Processing Van in a Village in Uttar Pradesh.

This article throws light on the Sweet Revolution in India, Government policies supporting Mithi Kranti and the opportunities and difficulties associated with the Honey Mission or Sweet Revolution.

Aspirants would find this article very helpful while preparing for the IAS Exam.

Candidates preparing for various Government exams must carefully go through the article for the preparation of general awareness of the examinations.

Sweet Revolution Or Honey Mission

India has witnessed many revolutions in its food industry such as the White, Green Revolution and yellow revolution that were related to milk, agriculture and edible oilseed respectively. Under the Sweet revolution, the focus is on beekeeping through scientific methods and the production of quality honey and other beehive products. The Sweet Revolution is related to help increase the income of India’s small and marginal farmers. India being a country that is rich in poultry and cattle population has a high potential to grow in this sector.

Aspirant preparing for the various competitive exam can check the information on various Agricultural revolutions in India.

Sweet Revolution in India – Overview

• PM Modi called for Sweet Revolution in 2016 with the vision to double the income of the farmers by 2024. It was launched to promote beekeeping and associated activities.
• In 2020, the government launched the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission to give Sweet Revolution a push (under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare).
• Government has allocated Rs.500 crore towards National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM) under Atma Nirbhar Abhiyan. Candidates can read more on Atma Nirbhar Abhiyan on the given link.
• ‘Sweet Revolution‘ is a strategic step to emphasise the increase in honey production, which can be a major contributor to doubling the income of the farmers.
• India is among the world’s top five honey producers and honey production has risen by 242% and exports shot by 265% as compared to 2005-06. This implies that beekeeping will be an important factor in achieving the goal of doubling farmers’ income by 2024.
• Farmers grow a wide variety of crops that include pulses, vegetables, fruits, and cereals. These are ideal hosts for bees and thus beekeeping could become a lucrative livelihood option for these farmers. Hence, the production of crops will also increase by 15% with the increase in income.
• To achieve the objective of the “Sweet Revolution,” which is being executed by the National Bee Board (NBB), NBHM seeks to promote and improve scientific beekeeping nationally.
• The National Bee Board has created four modules to impart training as part of the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) and 30 lakh farmers have been trained in beekeeping.
• Jharkhand is the best state to implement sweet revolution and there is a huge potential as State’s climate is suitable for honey production and approximately 30% of the land is covered by forest which is the most important resource for honey production.

Candidates can read about other schemes by the government for the welfare and development of farmers-

Honey Mission

The government has launched the ‘Honey Mission’ as part of ‘Sweet Revolution.’ It was launched by KVIC in 2017. Sweet Revolution is associated with promoting beekeeping to increase crop productivity and pollination services avenue for beekeepers and farmers. 

• The Sweet Kranti Mission is associated with creating employment for the Adivasis, farmers, unemployed youth, and women by roping them in beekeeping while also increasing India’s honey production.
• The Mission has created more than 10,000 new jobs, besides creating around 25,000 additional man-days through the fabrication of bee boxes and honey extractors.
• The Government of India has launched the ambitious project to promote apiculture, also referred to as “beekeeping.”
• It seeks to accelerate the production of high-quality honey and associated goods.
• Since honey is regarded as a naturally nutritious product, demand for high-quality honey has increased over time.
• Royal jelly, beeswax, pollens, and other apiculture products are also widely employed in a variety of industries, including pharmaceuticals, food, beverage, beauty products, and others.
• Major issues faced by beekeepers are scientific beekeeping, minimum support price (read in detail about Minimum Support Price here) quality assurance, branding, testing, organic certification etc.
• Under the Honey Mission, the KVIC provides the farmers or beekeepers –
  • Practical training about the examination of honeybee colonies,
  • Identification and management of bee enemies and diseases along with the management of bee colonies in all seasons.
  • Acquaintance with apicultural equipment and
  • Honey extraction and wax purification
• Recently, in a village of Uttar Pradesh, the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has unveiled the first mobile honey processing van in the nation.  Beekeepers won’t have to spend money on transportation costs or deal with the difficulty of taking their honey to processing facilities in distant locations thanks to a mobile honey processing van. In support of “Sweet Kranti,” this endeavour is being taken (Sweet Revolution).

A Glimpse of Honey Market: 

• The total honey market value is $ 500 million and by 2025 the market is expected to reach $ 1130 million.
• Honey Market is increasing @ 10.7% CAGR.
• Indian honey market demand is in the USA, UAE and Europe
• Major consumption market is found in Europe, North America and China.

Advantages of Mobile Honey Processing Van

It costs a lot of money for small farmers and beekeepers to carry honey to processing facilities.

Most beekeepers would sell their raw honey to the agents at their farms themselves at a very low price in order to avoid significant transportation and processing costs.

• The Processing Van will help beekeepers minimise their costs associated with honey extraction and processing.
• Due to the processing taking place right at the farmers’ and beekeepers’ doorsteps, this will also completely prevent any possibility of honey adulteration.

Sweet Revolution Or Meethi Kranti Objectives

• The primary goal of NBHM is to encourage the industry’s overall expansion in order to generate revenue and employment for households that are both on and off farms.
  • Under Mini Mission-I, the programme intends to raise awareness of scientific beekeeping, 
  • Under Mini Mission-II, post-harvest beekeeping management, and 
  • Under Mini Mission-III, beehive products, including collecting, processing, storage, marketing, value addition, etc.
• To make Jharkhand state in the category of developed states by 2022.
• Providing employment by connecting the farmers of the state with beekeeping.
• To increase agriculture and horticulture yield and income of farmers.
• To make the state the leading state in the field of honey production.
• Children free from malnutrition.
• Production of quality honey.

Aspirants preparing for any government exams can visit the link provided to prepare even better for the examination-

• Free Online Quiz for Government Exams
• Government Exams Free Mock Test Series
• Government Exam Previous Year Question Papers with Solution PDFs

Sweet Kranti Mission / Meethi Kranti – Approach

• The farmers for beekeeping will be selected through the Chief Minister Small and Micro Industries Board.
• Training centres will provide training to farmers for beekeeping and production
• Agricultural Institutions and Krishi Vigyan Kendra will be trained by the nodal agencies. Know more about Krishi Vigyan Kendras on the linked page. 
• The state government will connect farmers with APEDA, the Government of India, especially for honey exports.

Honey Mission: Challenges

• Domestic Challenges:

• • • Financial services and credit facilities training
    • Ensuring need-based training & up-skilling
    • Need for quality standards awareness
    • Strengthening of handholding support on seasonal management and migration
    • Convergence with the existing schemes for FPO building and cluster-based approach
    • Branding and formalising market linkages

• Exports Challenges:

• • Increased freight costs
  • Higher Nuclear Magnetic Resonance test costs(used to test for adulterations and other manipulations)
  • Limited availability of containers in peak honey export season
  • Inadequate incentives for exporting.

Sweet Revolution- Honey Mission in India – Way Forward

• Recognising honeybees as inputs to agriculture, and apiculture as a subject for advanced research under the aegis of Indian Council for Agricultural Research.
• Considering landless Beekeepers as farmers and focusing on training and development of beekeepers by state governments.
• Plantation of bee-friendly flora at appropriate places and engaging women self-help groups in managing such plantations. Know in detail about the Self Help Groups on the link provided here. 

• Development of national and regional infrastructure for storage, processing and marketing of honey and other bee products.
• Institutionalising the National Bee Board under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. Such a body would engage in advancing beekeeping through multiple mechanisms such as setting up of new Integrated Bee Development Centres, strengthening the existing ones, creating a honey price stabilization fund and collection of data on important aspects of agriculture.
• To increase exports: 
  • Setting up clear standards and simplifying procedures for the ease of exporting honey and other bee products.
  • Renegotiating the various nations’ tax structures in order to increase honey exports.
  • Exploring potential markets for honey exports in places including the European Union, the United Kingdom, and South East Asia.
  • Facilitating manufacturers’ access to international markets in addition to helping them obtain government funding through various programmes, quality certification, and lab testing.
  • In addition, efforts should be increased to address rising freight prices, a lack of containers during the busiest honey export season, rising costs associated with nuclear magnetic resonance tests, and insufficient export incentives.

Know the difference between Self Help Group and an NGO on the given link.

Candidates preparing for various competitive exams can go through the following links for their preparation-

• Daily News Analysis
• Banking Awareness
• Computer Awareness
• Static GK
• English for Competitive exams
• 100 Difference Between Articles for Revision 

You can also check out the preparation strategies for competitive exams to fine-tune your exam preparation.