Farmers gathered round Jagpal Singh Phogat’s farm in Haryana’s Jhajjar district, intrigued by the sight of bee bins positioned throughout his wheat fields. A trainer by occupation, Jagpal deftly dealt with the buzzing bins, drawing laughter from the onlookers — together with his personal father.
“My household opposed my resolution to start out beekeeping, particularly my bapu (father). He sarcastically mentioned, ‘Arey grasp, gaay paal le, bhains paal le, bakri paal le, murgi paal le, makkhi ke pali? Ud javegi. (You would have opted for cow rearing or buffaloes, poultry, or goat farming, why did you select to boost bees? They may fly away),” shares Jagpal as he remembers his father’s remark.
In 2001, beekeeping was an unfamiliar idea of their village. Whereas many dismissed Jagpal as loopy, their views rapidly modified after they witnessed the outstanding outcomes.
“Inside a month, I managed to fill at the least 25 massive tin containers with honey,” remembers Jagpal. “Till then, we had solely seen honey in small bottles. Even my father was astonished and requested how a lot it might promote for. I advised him every container was price Rs 2,000. That was greater than we might earn from six months of laborious work on the wheat farm. Shocked, he mentioned, ‘Why didn’t you begin this sooner?’”
Coming from an agricultural background, the place incomes Rs 50,000 per acre from wheat farming was a problem, Jagpal realised that beekeeping provided far better benefits over conventional farming strategies.
“Beekeeping requires a one-time funding and gives yields 12 months after 12 months, in contrast to farming, the place it’s a must to re-sow for each season,” Jagpal (59) tells The Higher India. “That’s an enormous distinction. Plus, any small farmer can begin beekeeping, even with out a lot land.”
We sat down with Jagpal to study extra about the benefits of beekeeping, its influence on native farmers, and the potential for wider adoption of this eco-friendly follow.
From classroom to apiary
Jagpal started his profession as an English trainer at a personal secondary faculty. Nonetheless, an opportunity encounter with beekeeping by means of a relative sparked a newfound ardour. This wasn’t only a profession change; it marked a transformative shift in his perspective on farming and group growth.
Beekeeping, as Jagpal found, affords a number of benefits over typical farming practices. “Firstly, it’s an eco-friendly method,” he says. “Bees play an important function in pollination, which is a crucial element of agriculture. Introducing beehives right into a farm boosts pollination charges, resulting in greater yields for farmers in a radius of as much as two kilometres.”
This localised pollination profit is especially important in water-scarce areas the place optimising crop yields is paramount. “And a very powerful side is that beekeeping doesn’t require any recurring bills. With only one time funding, anybody can reap advantages 12 months after 12 months,” he explains.
In 2001, Jagpal started assembly bee farmers in Ludhiana, Punjab, to study extra about beekeeping. He bought 30 bee bins from a farmer in Delhi, investing Rs 60,000 — at Rs 2,000 per field. With none formal coaching, he relied on studying from different farmers and his personal hands-on expertise.
His first encounter with bees, nonetheless, was removed from nice. “Whereas eradicating a hive body, bees stung me within the eyes, leaving them badly swollen,” he remembers. “It occurred as a result of I didn’t perceive bee behaviour on the time. However my ardour saved me going. As a substitute of being scared, I selected to study extra about how bees behave.”
He provides, “When eradicating the body from the field, it’s necessary to do it gently to keep away from stunning the bees. Additionally, keep away from carrying perfumes, fragrant hair oils, or black clothes, as these can irritate them.”
Whereas persevering with his instructing job, Jagpal started practising beekeeping on the facet. After mastering the nuances of the commerce, he determined to stop instructing in 2007 to commit himself absolutely to beekeeping.
Empowering over 500 fellow farmers
Jagpal raises the Apis mellifera number of honey bees. “This selection affords excessive manufacturing and boosts pollination. Throughout the flowering season, honey could be harvested inside simply 10 days. On common, I get round 40 kg of honey per field yearly,” he informs.
The farmer additionally travels to varied states — together with Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, and Haryana — to entry the varied floral sources in these areas. By introducing his bees to forests of neem, litchi, sesame, eucalyptus, apples, and mustard, he is ready to produce all kinds of high-quality honey.
Beekeeping isn’t nearly honey manufacturing for Jagpal.
In 2016, he established his personal processing unit and progressively started producing byproducts like beeswax, cleaning soap, bee pollen, and royal jelly. By showcasing his merchandise at offline exhibitions, he was in a position to create a pan-India market — primarily in main metropolitan areas like Bengaluru, Delhi NCR, Mumbai, and Hyderabad.
“My son has additionally joined me within the enterprise,” provides Jagpal. “He created a web-based presence for our merchandise.” He sells his merchandise beneath two manufacturers — ‘Nature Contemporary’ and ‘Bee Buzz’. Final 12 months, Jagpal achieved an annual turnover of Rs 2 crore.
He says, “Any farmer can begin beekeeping and earn good-looking earnings. It requires a one-time funding and also you’d have the ability to recuperate the funding inside a 12 months.”
At 59, Jagpal actively shares his information and expertise with different farmers, demonstrating the sensible utility of beekeeping strategies. By mentoring and guiding others, he ensures that the advantages of beekeeping are accessible and sustainable in the long run.
Up to now, he has educated at the least 500 farmers in beekeeping. One such farmer is Dharmaveer Singh Nandal from Mehrana village in Jhajjar district. With Jagpal’s steering, Dharmaveer discovered about beekeeping and shortly arrange his personal enterprise in 2003.
“I began with 30 bee bins, and now I’ve 2,500,” says Dharmaveer Singh Nandal from Mehrana village. “Initially, I used to be a bit sceptical and scared about dealing with honey bees. However Jagpal ji helped me perceive the character of bees and the benefits of beekeeping. In comparison with farming wheat, paddy, and mustard, it’s very useful. Right this moment, I earn between Rs 5 to 10 lakh a 12 months.”
It’s been 25 years since Jagpal began within the honey enterprise. Reflecting on his resolution, he says, “There was a time when villagers known as me ‘bawla’ (loopy) and visited my farm simply to mock me. However those self same individuals ultimately took up beekeeping themselves. I’m glad I used to be in a position to introduce them to the advantages of beekeeping, and I proceed to take action.”
Edited by Pranita Bhat; All pictures courtesy Jagpal Singh Phogat
