Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Tuesday launched ‘Amul Honey’, a product of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. The product was launched under cooperation with ‘National Bee Board (NBB)’.
Addressing the launching event, Tomar emphasized the importance of the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission in increasing the income of small farmers, which is being implemented in the country for doubling the income of farmers/beekeepers through beekeeping with the budgetary allocation of ₹500 crores.
He said there are 86% small farmers in the country. “In order to increase the income of these small farmers, it is necessary to connect them with other dimensions of agriculture like beekeeping,” he said.
The minister also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed his desire for a sweet revolution on the soil of Gujarat and today, by launching Amul Honey, India has started the journey towards fulfilling the dream of the PM.
He also expressed that the quality of honey is a major concern in the country for which 5 large-scale Regional Honey Testing Labs and 100 Mini Honey Testing Labs are being set up all over the country. “It should be our constant effort that the quality of our honey products should also meet the global standards as there are lots of export opportunities in this sector,” he added.
The minister assured the beekeepers/ farmers of the country that the Government of India will provide all necessary support for the promotion & development of beekeeping in the country.
Appreciating efforts made by Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), Tomar said Amul has not only set up a milestone in the direction of the White Revolution but it also expanded in the milk processing sector and established itself as a global brand.
Besides this, Amul also provides employment opportunities to marginal farmers and significantly contributes in the overall progress of the country in the dairy sector.
The Minister also assured GMMF that the Agriculture Ministry will look into the proposal for establishing a testing lab in Gujarat.
Parshottam Rupala, Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, congratulated GCMMF on launching its Honey product. He expressed happiness that Amul Honey is being launched after testing it as per the global standard. He said promoting beekeeping and selling honey through cooperatives will give a boost to the rural economy.
GCMMF Managing Director Dr. RS Sodhi said that Dairy Cooperatives and their infrastructural facilities can be simultaneously used for Honey Production through their established set up of 84 Dairy Plants over all the country.
source: https://www.livemint.com/