Maharashtra Khadi Board to Honour Beekeepers With Madhumitra & Madhusakhi Awards on World Bee Day

The Maharashtra State Khadi and Village Industries Board has announced the recipients of the 2026 ‘Madhumitra’ and ‘Madhusakhi’ awards, recognising individuals for their contributions to beekeeping and honey production across the state.

The felicitation ceremony will be held in Sambhajinagar on May 20 to mark World Bee Day.

The initiative reflects the Board’s continued focus on promoting beekeeping as a sustainable rural livelihood activity while encouraging greater awareness around honey production and allied village industries in Maharashtra.

Awards Introduced to Promote Beekeeping in Maharashtra

The Madhumitra and Madhusakhi awards were instituted in 2023 with the objective of recognising and motivating beekeepers who are making meaningful contributions to the sector.

According to the Board, the awards include:

• A memento
• A certificate
• A cash prize

Officials stated that the initiative aims to support individuals working in beekeeping while also encouraging wider participation in the sector across rural Maharashtra.

“The awards have been introduced to promote beekeeping in the state and motivate beekeepers who are contributing significantly to the sector,” an official from the Maharashtra State Khadi and Village Industries Board said.

2026 Awardees Announced Across Multiple Districts

The Board announced four primary award recipients for 2026 based on their work in beekeeping and honey production activities across different districts in Maharashtra.

The awardees include:

• Dnyaneshwar Malile from Latur
• Ganesh Burkul from Sambhajinagar
• Rajendradas Bairagi from Buldhana
• Shweta Vayal from Pune

The selection highlights the growing participation of beekeepers from different regions of Maharashtra in strengthening the sector.

Special Honours for Contribution to the Sector

In addition to the main awards, the selection committee has also chosen four individuals for special recognition.

The special honourees are:

• Chandrakant Tare from Thane
• Sanjay Marne from Pune
• Dayawan Patil from Kolhapur
• Vidyanand Ahire from Jalgaon

The Board stated that the awards and recognitions are intended to acknowledge efforts that contribute to the growth of beekeeping and rural entrepreneurship in the state.

Focus on Rural Livelihoods and Sustainable Agriculture

According to officials, the initiative forms part of the Board’s broader efforts to strengthen rural livelihoods and create awareness about the importance of beekeeping within the agricultural and village industries ecosystem.

Beekeeping is increasingly being viewed as an important supplementary livelihood activity that supports honey production and rural income generation. The Board believes that recognising successful beekeepers can encourage more individuals to explore the sector.

The World Bee Day event in Sambhajinagar is expected to bring together beekeepers, rural entrepreneurs, and officials associated with the promotion of village industries and sustainable agricultural activities in Maharashtra