Some of the products on display at the ‘honey sales day’ at Imkongmeren Sports Complex during the Republic Day celebration in Mokokchung. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Mokokchung | January 27
With the initiative of the Nagaland Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM), about 300 beekeepers of Mokokchung district have come together and formed a farmer produces organization (FPO) to market their honey produces under the brand name ‘Mokokchung Honey’. The beekeepers group, formed in 2020, goes by the name Tzukong Van Dhan Vikas Kendra (VDVK). The initiative is supported by the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED), Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India.
The beekeepers hail from 13 different villages namely, Yisemyong, Mongsenyimti, Longkhum, Longkong, Khensa, Chuchuyimlang village, Chuchuyimlang town, Longsa, Chubayimkum, Changtongya, Merangkong, Aliba and Chungtia.
Tzukong VDVK organized a ‘honey sales day’ at Imkongmeren Sports Complex on the occasion of the Republic Day celebration in Mokokchung. According to Chubanungla, NBHM member, who was also present at the sales day, said that Tzukong VDVK was an initiative of NBHM to facilitate and provide a platform for the beekeepers to showcase their honey and provide market linkage.
The honey marketed by Tzukong VDVK is packaged in PET jars with 500 gm net content and decently labeled, are priced at Rs 350. According to Chubanungla, the pure and natural honey is sourced by the honey gatherers where they themselves do primary filtration, bottling and labeling. She also added that registration under FSSAI is under process.
Award winning beekeeper from Yisemyong, T Chuba, said that NBHM through Tzukong VDVK has given the beekeepers and honey gatherers a platform to market their produce in a more organized manner. Being an FPO formed by the collective venture of local honey gatherers, Tzukong VDVK and its brand ‘Mokokchung Honey’ is driven for livelihood enhancement while at the same time harnessing the rich organic forest wealth of the district in a sustainable manner.
The NBHM member Chubanungla while informing that ‘Mokokchung Honey’ will now be available at local retail stores, she also added that some entrepreneurs have already expressed their interest in marketing honey products. Mokokchung district produces about 35 metric tons of honey annually.
Earlier today, Nagaland minister for Higher Education and Tribal Affairs, Temjen Imna Along, who was the chief guest at the Republic Day celebration in Mokokchung, also visited the Mokokchung Honey stall and applauded the beekeepers and honey gatherers.
