A beekeeper in Yangching village under Longleng District shows his beehive during the tour to various Apiaries under the District on February 5.
Mokokchung, February 5 (MExN): A Common Facility Centre for beekeepers of Chuchuyimlang was inaugurated by T Imtiwapang Aier, Deputy Secretary & Team Leader, Nagaland Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM), some thirty kilometers away from Mokokchung Headquarter on February 5.
The Deputy Secretary in his address said Nagas has been practicing beekeeping as a hobby without knowing the prospect of honey and the important role played by the bees in nature cycle.
He also said that the State Government was able to realize and tapped the potential of beekeeping and honey production for various purpose only in 2007 thus resulting in the formation of NBHM.
He acknowledged the advancement of Gandhi Ashram under the stewardship of Natwar Thakkar who realized the prospect of beekeeping before the State could realize and imparted skills of practicing scientific beekeeping in Chuchuyimlang during the 1960s. And the trend was still practiced today, Aier noted.
The annual production of honey in a khel in Chuchuyimlang village was approximately 800 kg, and if the whole khels were combined, the village production were 3-4 tonnes of honey, he said.
The team leader also informed that the new mission of NBHM is now focused on need base method and the mission will provide full support to genuine beekeepers. He urged the Village Beekeeping Committee (VBKC) of Chuchuyimlang to increase honey production and let the village become the hub of learning modern beekeeping.
He further urged the Committee to use the new facility as a training centre to teach people about beekeeping and also for collecting honey for processing and marketing.
Earlier, Takonungsang, a pioneer in beekeeping in Chuchuyimlang, trained in Gandhi Ashram in the 1960’s was also given a recognition certificate plus cash for his work from NBHM.
Aier also visited Apiaries at Mopungchuket, Merangkong Compound and Mongyimti village to obtain first-hand information from the beekeepers and interacted with VBKC on February 4. He also visited Apiaries at Yisemyong, Mokokchung District and Yangching village at Longleng District on February 5.
During his visit, the requisite need of VBKCs was noted and he further motivated the beekeepers to continue their efforts to increase the bee colony and honey. Aier also informed about changing funding pattern where funds are directly transferred to the beneficiaries.
