DECCAN NEWS SERVICE | NEW DELHI

Khadi and Village Industries Commission under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises celebrated World Bee Day 2026 through virtual programmes conducted from its headquarters in Mumbai, state and divisional offices across the country and the Central Bee Research and Training Institute in Pune.

KVIC Chairman Manoj Kumar virtually addressed KVIC offices, beekeepers, scientists, students, beneficiaries and employees across the country from the Gandhi Darshan Office in New Delhi. On the occasion, he also virtually inaugurated a honey exhibition organised at the Central Bee Research and Training Institute in Pune.

The programmes were organised in line with this year’s World Bee Day theme, “Bee Together for People and the Planet,” highlighting the importance of honeybees in environmental conservation, biodiversity protection and agricultural productivity.

Addressing participants, Manoj Kumar stated that the virtual celebrations were conducted in accordance with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi focusing on energy conservation, prudent use of resources and effective management with minimal expenditure. He observed that the online mode reduced unnecessary travel and fuel consumption while enabling wider participation from across the country.

The KVIC Chairman said honeybees play a crucial role in protecting nature and strengthening the agricultural ecosystem. He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of transforming the “White Revolution into Sweet Revolution” has provided a major boost to self-employment and self-reliance in rural India.

He further stated that KVIC launched the “Honey Mission” in 2017 inspired by the Prime Minister’s vision, and the initiative has since emerged as a strong medium for employment generation and rural economic development.

According to KVIC officials, nearly 2.5 lakh bee-boxes and bee colonies have been distributed across the country under the Honey Mission between 2017-18 and 2025-26. The initiative reportedly helped increase honey production by over 24,269 metric tonnes, with honey production during 2025-26 estimated at 5,512 metric tonnes.

Officials stated that beekeepers associated with KVIC exported honey worth nearly ₹31 crore during the financial year 2025-26. Indian honey exports reached countries including the United States, Canada, UAE, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Singapore, Australia, Qatar and the Republic of Korea.

Manoj Kumar appealed to beekeepers to view beekeeping not only as a source of honey production but also as an important tool for environmental protection, agricultural growth and rural prosperity. He called upon citizens to protect honeybees and help expand the “Sweet Revolution” to villages across the country.

Participants from different states also shared their experiences and success stories related to beekeeping during the virtual programme. The event was attended by KVIC officials, representatives of Khadi institutions, artisans, trainees, bank representatives and state government officials.