Maharashtra seeks integrated beekeeping policy, dedicated portal, says Khadi board chief

Ravindra Sathe, chairman of the Maharashtra State Khadi and Village Industries Board, told reporters on May 15, 2026 that Maharashtra should adopt an integrated beekeeping policy and establish a dedicated registration portal to track honey production and formalize the apiary sector. He noted that the state produced about 1.75 lakh metric tonnes of honey last year, with 40% produced by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission, and argued that accurate data on beekeepers and honey-related activities is currently lacking. Sathe suggested registering all beekeepers through a portal to be managed by the Maharashtra State Khadi and Village Industries Board, mentioning Israel as a model. He emphasized that data consolidation is already underway to determine actual production figures. He also discussed monsoon-related challenges to beekeeping, the government's collaboration with four agricultural universities to prepare a roadmap, and ongoing policies including a 10-day training program with a 50% subsidy on bee colonies after training, plus the Madhu Gram initiative covering about 350 villages with a 90% subsidy. He highlighted high honey procurement prices (Khadi Commission: ₹190–₹200/kg; board: ₹500/kg for organic honey) and the potential for additional income from byproducts like propolis, royal jelly, and pollen.