BENGALURU — Adopting scientific beekeeping practices can increase agricultural crop yields by 35% to 40% while creating an additional revenue stream for farmers, according to a leading horticulture expert.
Speaking at the inauguration of a two-day “Scientific Beekeeping” training program on August 19, 2026, Dr. Venkateshalu, Extension Director of the University of Horticultural Sciences (UHS), Bagalkot, emphasized that modern, structured apiculture simplifies management and maximizes profitability for rural entrepreneurs.
The Economic Case for Apiculture
Dr. Venkateshalu highlighted that while high-quality medicinal honey offers a direct source of income, the secondary impact on local ecosystems drives the highest financial return. Accelerated cross-pollination from managed bee colonies directly boosts overall agricultural productivity, offering a dual-income model for smallholders.
“Beekeeping becomes highly accessible and lucrative once farmers transition from traditional methods to evidence-based, scientific training,” Dr. Venkateshalu noted while symbolically unveiling a honey box to launch the event.
Collaborative Rural Development
The training initiative represents a targeted push to scale up rural agri-business tech. The workshop was jointly organized by:
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- The University of Horticultural Sciences, Bagalkot
- The Cluster-Based Business Organisation (CBBO)
- The Directorate of Extension
- ATMA, via the Assistant Director of Agriculture Office (Muddebihal)
The inaugural event was presided over by Smt. Sangeeta Bhajantri, ATMA Block Technology Manager (BTM), Muddebihal. Key technical sessions are being led by UHS Bagalkot Assistant Professors Dr. Deepa Teradala, Dr. Chandrashekar, Sripada Vishweshwar, and M.A. Wasim. More than 50 progressive farmers are participating in the intensive two-day camp to learn colony management, disease control, and honey extraction techniques.
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