Vision to produce 2000 metric tonnes of honey, 2 metric tonnes of wax by 2030 valued at Rs. 100 crores
Our Correspondent
Kohima | February 11
Beekeeping and honey is another area with scope for developing economic activities including honey based enterprise. This was stated in Nagaland Vision 2030 document. The interventions of the Beekeeping & Honey Mission have progressed substantially from a largely rudimentary level to a well-organized sustainable livelihood activity involving stakeholders in the Api villages spread across the state.
In fact Nagaland today is recognized as a pioneer in beekeeping and honey production in the country and is recognized even at the international level. Sadly, this area has not been given sufficient impetus and suffers from funding constraints, the Vision document stated.
Nagaland, falls within one of the 18 mega biodiversity hotspot areas and is considered as a cradle of flowering plants rich in nectar and pollen. Coupled with the prevailing favorable climatic conditions and availability of abundant bee flora flowering throughout the year, the state has tremendous prospects for developing bee keeping and honey production.
The state has potentials to economically carry more than 22 lakhs bee colonies from the available bee foraging area of about 10, 942 sq.km (66 per cent of the total area) out of the state’s total geographical area of 16, 579 sq.km. Thus Nagaland has the potential to produce about 10,000 metric tonnes of honey and 10 metric tonnes of bees wax which will lead to substantial commercial and employment opportunities.
The Vision for the Mission is to produce 2000 metric tonnes of honey and 2 metric tonnes of wax by 2030 valued at Rs. 100 crores annually.
“This appears to be a reasonable target and for which adequate resources should be provided for the activities such as research studies, apiculture development and promotion, industry service and marketing for development of apiculture as an enterprise in the state,” the Vision document stated.
