NEW DELHI, May 20: Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India, today organized various programmes on World Honey Bee Day 2026 through virtual mode from its headquarters in Mumbai, state and divisional offices across the country and Central Bee Research and Training Institute (CBRTI), Pune.
From KVIC’s Gandhi Darshan Office in New Delhi, Chairman KVIC Manoj Kumar virtually addressed KVIC offices, beekeepers, beneficiaries, scientists, students, officers and employees across the country. On the occasion, the ‘Honey Exhibition’ organized at CBRTI, Pune was also virtually inaugurated by Chairman Kumar.
In line with this year’s World Honey Bee Day theme — “Bee Together for People and the Planet” — the programmes highlighted the important role of honeybees in environmental conservation, agricultural productivity and strengthening biodiversity.
Addressing the participants joined virtually from across the country, the Chairman said that this year’s World Honey Bee Day programmes have been organized through virtual mode in accordance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of energy conservation, judicious use of resources and effective management with minimal expenditure. This not only reduced unnecessary travel and fuel consumption, but also ensured the participation of a large number of people from different states of the country. He further said that honey bees are vital protectors of nature and the agricultural ecosystem, and PM Modi’s vision of transforming ‘White Revolution into Sweet Revolution’ has accelerated self-employment and self-reliance in villages. Today, beekeeping has become a strong medium for strengthening agriculture, the environment and the rural economy.
The Chairman further said that at a time when the entire world is worried about the conservation of honeybees, India has taken positive initiatives in this direction, with major credit going to the visionary leadership of PM Modi.
He said that while launching the ‘Sweet Revolution” from Banaskantha, Gujarat in 2016, the Prime Minister had stated, “Where there has been a White Revolution, there will now also be a Sweet Revolution.” He added that this was not merely a slogan, but a comprehensive vision for villages, farmers and the building of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Taking inspiration from the Prime Minister’s vision, KVIC launched the ‘Honey Mission’ in 2017, which has now become a strong medium for employment and self-reliance in rural areas.
The Chairman stated that, under the ‘Honey Mission’, KVIC has distributed 246,099 bee-boxes and bee colonies across the country between the years 2017-18 and 2025-26, thereby enhancing honey production by 24,269 metric tonnes. In the year 2025-26, honey production reached an estimated 5,512 metric tonnes. Furthermore, beekeepers associated with KVIC exported honey worth approximately Rs 31 crore during the financial year 2025-26. The key destinations for honey exports include numerous countries such as USA, Canada, UAE, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Singapore, Australia, Qatar, and the Republic of Korea, reflecting the growing global acceptance of Indian honey.
In his appeal to beekeepers across the country, Kumar said that beekeeping should not be viewed merely as a means of honey production. It is also a powerful tool for nature conservation, agricultural growth and rural prosperity. He called upon everyone to take a pledge on World Honey Bee Day to protect honeybees, connect more people with beekeeping and take the Prime Minister’s “Sweet Revolution” to every village in the country.
During the programme, participants from different parts of the country shared their experiences and success stories related to beekeeping through digital platforms. The program was attended by the Joint Chief Executive Officer of KVIC, other officials and employees, experts from various fields, representatives of Khadi institutions, artisans, trainees, bank representatives, and state government officials. The event was a strong example of KVIC’s continuous efforts towards building an Aatmanirbhar Bharat. (PIB)