Beekeeping Boosts Profits for Engineer-Turned-Farmer in Junnar

Pune: Harshada Satyawan Gagare, a software engineer by education, has transformed her barren land in Wadgaon Anand Padirwadi, Junnar, into a thriving rose garden, supplemented by a successful beekeeping enterprise.

Despite her technical background, Harshada's passion for agriculture led her to embrace farming, and her innovative approach has yielded significant financial returns.

Under the guidance of Shweta Vayal Gaikwad, Madhulekha Aperi, and the MadhuKanya initiative, Harshada placed five hives of European honeybees in her rose field.

In three months, each hive yields around 25 kg of honey, totaling approximately 125 to 140 kg from all five hives. Currently, the market price ranges from INR 600 to 1,000 per kg, with an initial investment of INR 30,000.

This yields an income of around INR 75,000 to 95,000 every three months, making it a year-round source of income. Harshada's husband, Jaalindar Gagare, who is also highly educated, assists in the work, along with Sonali Padir, who takes care of the hives day and night.

Currently, they produce pure honey, wax, and wax-based products. The income from honey production has significantly increased the profit margin from the vegetables and flowers grown on the farm by about 1.25 to 1.5 times.

Harshada Gagare says, "Beekeeping requires minimal investment, takes less time, and needs very little space. It is particularly beneficial for farming on less fertile land. Honeybees play a crucial role in pollination, which in turn boosts fruit production."