Beekeeping and Honey

The honey programme of Appropriate Technology India is also centred around the organization’s ‘conservation-and-enterprise’ approach. The organization introduced improved wall hive technology to increase productivity of traditional bee hives in remote Himalayan villages. In ecological terms, Bees serve as efficient pollinating agents in the Western Himalayas region. This results in better seed production in forests and pastures, which contributes to better regeneration. As a result, the economic value of blossoming trees and flowers increases, benefiting local communities. This in turn contributes directly and indirectly to the conservation of biodiversity. Our achievements in this programme have included:

• Training, technical support, equipment to beekeepers facilitating increased production of honey and Established facilities to procure and process honey. 872 producer households are involved in all stages of honey production, processing and marketing

• Marketing “Devbhumi Madhu” honey in over 300 retail outlets in North and South India.

• Organic Certification received from international certification agency SGS for 1900 honey producers collecting from wall hives and bee boxes in the project area. Devbhumi honey also recognized by the Fair Trade Federation of America.

• Procurement and Marketing of organic Rajma (kidney beans) and malta (citrus) and honey squashes being undertaken to encourage conservation of local genetic diversity and improve incomes.

The temperate oak tasar silk project | The honey and beekeeping project | Self Help Groups and microfinance

Conservation and plantation | Dairy development – business development services | Ringal and Lichens

Village based Ecotourism | Interpretation Centers