Shillong, Dec 21 (FN Representative) In order to promote the quality of honey produced by the beekeepers across the state, to provide better packaging and better marketing facility, the Meghalaya government on Tuesday distributed bee hives to master beekeepers and released the Mission Document of Apiculture Mission 2.0. Altogether 35 master beekeepers hailing from Ri Bhoi District, West Jaintia Hills District, East Jaintia Hills District, East Khasi Hills District, East West Khasi Hills District and South West Khasi Hills District received bee hives on the day. The programme was organized by the Directorate of Horticulture, Government of Meghalaya as part of the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Statehood. Addressing the master beekeepers, State Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister, Banteidor Lyngdoh stressed on the importance of scientific bee rearing for larger production of honey. Under Apiculture Mission 2.0, he said the Government is committed to work closely with the farmers and get their feedback so that any intervention made will yield positive results.
The Apiculture Mission has been initiated across the State in a convergent mode with the Department of Commerce and Industries. The Mission has been designed to spur initiatives integrative with Meghalaya’s biophysical attributes to confer livelihood improvement through gainful employment of the local populace. Exhorting bee keepers to come forward and approach the officers at the district level, the Minister pointed out the importance of clarifying doubts for their benefit. Lamenting the procurement of local honey at low cost by companies from outside the state which is then repackaged, branded and resold at a much higher cost, Lyngdoh stressed on the need for proper branding and packing. Drawing focus on the dwindling number of bees, particularly in urban areas and in places where chemical fertilizers are used, the Minister stressed on the importance of preserving the environment for the benefit and survival of all. He also urged all line departments to work together for the benefit of the farmers of the state.
Commissioner and Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Dr. Vijay Kumar, in his address said that although the State boasts of a variety of honey and has a huge potential to produce quality honey, it is unfortunate that the State is still unable to fully leverage on this resource. While a number of local entrepreneurs have been able to add value to honey through proper branding, he lamented the inability to create a value chain at the famers level wherein honey is yet to be produced at a larger scale and processed properly, packaged and sold in a way that gets the best price for farmers. Informing that the goal of Apiculture Mission 2.0 is to work and support existing clusters while at the same time create new clusters and identify master beekeepers, Kumar said that in the first phase of the Mission master beekeepers will be provided with free boxes, following which clusters will be trained and subsequently bee boxes will be provided to farmers at 50 percent subsidy and 50 percent interest free bank loan.