ITC – Mission Sunehra Kal – Aspirational District Programme, Baksa

A pilot workshop on Honey cultivation was conducted recently in Baksa District under the above mentioned project.

Beekeeping is a significant sustainable, and environmentally sound activity involving integration of forestry, social forestry and Agricultural supporting activity since it provides nutritional, economic, and ecological balance, while providing employment and income. India has a good potential for beekeeping and to become a major honey exporting nation.

Beekeeping is a low investment and skill Industry having the potential to offer direct employment to lakhs of people especially hill dwellers, tribal and unemployed youth and farmers. Sustainability of this industry is therefore vital to the country’s economic wellbeing and development.

Beekeeping has been carried out across many generations in India. It plays a vital role in the livelihoods of the rural communities in five dynamic ways :-

(i) it is an income generating activity;

(ii) provides food and medicine – value of honey and other hive

products are invaluable;

(iii) it supports agricultural activities through cross pollination and

increase in yield of crops;

(iv) it contributes immensely to forest conservation;

(v) It provides supplementary income to farmers/ Tribal etc.