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Technical Assistance to UPSRLM - Beekeeping Project

Background

Uttar Pradesh is the highest producer of honey in the country due to good availability of flora. It has immense potential for beekeeping, and it has acted as additional source of income for farmers, particularly small and marginal farmers. Moreover, there are government schemes and loan products which build a cohesive ecosystem for beekeeping.

In this context, PCI India has taken a mandate of promoting beekeeping by leveraging self-help groups (SHG) network in the state. It has partnered with the Uttar Pradesh State Rural Livelihood Mission (UPSRLM) to extend support in developing scalable models on various livelihoods interventions (beekeeping), and their on-ground implementations through a Technical Support Unit (TSU).

Scope of Intervention 

As a part of the TSU, the Beekeeping initiative enables SHG members to become progressive beekeepers who are well trained on scientific beekeeping practices and focuses on developing a pool of trade-specific master trainers, local extension workers and beekeeping community resource persons.

It focuses upon engaging 100,000 SHG members across the state and form robust honey Producer Groups (PGs) and honey clusters. The idea is to develop a cohesive ecosystem for beekeeping and enhance the income of SHG beekeepers by 1,200 USD per annum.

PCI India extends support to the mission in developing robust livelihoods-based institution around beekeeping and linking them to the mainstream markets of the said commodities.

Program Lead & Collaborators

  • Lead Partner: PCI India
  • Government Collaborators:
    • Uttar Pradesh State Rural Livelihood Mission (UPSRLM)
    • Department of Horticulture, Government of Uttar Pradesh
  • Supported By:
    • Gates Foundation
  • Private Sector & Academic Partners:
    • Buzzworthy Ventures Pvt. Ltd.

What We Did

  • Partnerships with Government & Market Players: PCI India has played a pivotal role in facilitating partnerships with the Department of Horticulture (for support in capacity building and guidance on beekeeping & various schemes associated with the initiative) and Buzzworthy Ventures (a social enterprise for ensuring buy back).
  • Digital Solutions: A dedicated Management Information System (MIS) has been developed and two modules of the same has been hosted on UPSRLM’s server.
  • Training & Capacity Building of Mission Staff: Mission staff from 25 blocks & 5 districts have been trained on beekeeping concept, model, mobilization strategy and bee-hives management through this training.
  • Creation of Resource Pool: To cater to the capacity building needs of SHG beekeepers, PCI India has developed a pool of 15 Master Trainers.
  • Mobilization & Capacity Building of Households
  • Bee-Box Induction & Apiary Set-up
  • Preparation of Annual Action Plan 2025-26

Outcome

  • Mobilized 1,527 households, formed 45 Producer Groups and trained 527 SHG beekeepers
  • Set-up one apiary with 200 bee-boxes for harvesting Jamun Honey
  • Developed Beekeeping CRP policy
  • Facilitated the allocation of dedicated budget of Rs 9.63 Crores from UPSRLM for various activities planned under beekeeping intervention
  • MIS-based review mechanisms institutionalized