Beyond nutrition, honey plays a vital role in enhancing agricultural productivity through crop pollination.

14% Honey from 1.5% Land: Punjab Outshines Larger States in National Yield Race

Punjab has secured the third position in honey production across India, a significant achievement for a state accounting for just 1.5 per cent of the country's geographical area. According to the report, the state currently produces 21,100 tonnes of honey annually, accounting for 14.07 per cent of India's total production of 1.5 lakh tonnes.

This performance highlights the success of agricultural diversification and subsidiary occupations promoted by the state government to strengthen rural income. The report notes that apiculture has evolved into a source of entrepreneurship and employment for farmers, unemployed youth, and women, supporting an ecosystem that includes beeswax, royal jelly, propolis, and bee pollen.

A cornerstone of the Green Revolution, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, has been a pioneer in India's apiculture growth. In the 1960s, the university successfully introduced Apis mellifera, a high-yielding honeybee species, which was distributed to farmers in 1976 after rigorous research. This successful PAU model was subsequently scaled across the country, giving a significant boost to India’s honey industry."

Dr Jaspal Singh, Principal Entomologist at PAU, said that beekeeping is "more than honey; it is an ecosystem of opportunities." The university continues to empower beekeepers through a three-tier outreach programme, providing quality queen bees and advanced training to sustain healthy colonies. PAU has standardised technologies for queen bee rearing and disease management. 

Beyond nutrition, honey plays a vital role in enhancing agricultural productivity through crop pollination.

Source: The Tribune