Sweet Revolution in India

Sweet Revolution in India

News: Under the Honey Mission, 1,75,000 bee boxes have been distributed so far by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC). 

Background:
• As per the National Horticulture Board (NHB), Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Punjab, Bihar, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka were the top ten honey-producing states in 2021-22. 
• The National Horticulture Board (NHB) was set up by the Government of India in 1984 as an Autonomous organization under the administrative control of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and registered as a society under Societies Registration Act with its headquarters at Gurugram. 

What is Sweet Revolution?
• It is an ambitious initiative of the Government of India for promoting apiculture, popularly known as 'beekeeping'.
• To provide a booster shot to Sweet Revolution, the government launched the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission in 2020 (a central sector scheme under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare) as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat scheme.
• It aims to accelerate the production of quality honey and other related products. Other apiculture products such as royal jelly, beeswax, pollens, etc., are also used extensively in different sectors like pharmaceuticals, food, beverage, beauty, and others. 

About KVIC:
• KVIC is a statutory body established under the Khadi and Village Industries Commission Act, 1956.
• It functions under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
• The KVIC is charged with the planning, promotion, organisation and implementation of programmes for the development of Khadi and other village industries in the rural areas in coordination with other agencies engaged in rural development wherever necessary.
• Headquarters – Mumbai.