File Photo
Dimapur, August 18 (MExN): The Nagaland Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) bagged national award for best innovative and creative ideas for mushroom cultivation on the occasion of 34th foundation day of Tribal Co-operative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED), Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
Also Self Help Group clusters (VDVKC) under NBHM received the highest number of state awards in four categories, bagging nine awards in aggregate, informed a press release received here.
The occasion, graced by Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, Arjun Munda as the chief guest and Union Minister for State Renuka as the guest of honour, was celebrated virtually on August 6 last. The event was attended by the NBHM Team Leader and his associates.
Addressing the event, Managing Director of TRIFED asserted “Nagaland Honey as the best honey in India” and stressed on the demand of Nagaland honey in the country.
Commissioner & Secretary to Governor and Team Leader NBHM, T Mhabemo Yanthan IAS said NBHM being the designated Nodal Agency for promotion of overall Beekeeping and honey in the State has been implementing the PMVDY program solely for beekeeping activity as the only Minor Forest Produce (MFP), which was implemented in seven districts i.e. Wokha, Mokokchung, Zunheboto Phek, Tuensang, Kiphire and Noklak.
“Since honey production is a seasonal activity and during off season the beekeepers remain idle. Therefore, in order to operationalise the activity throughout the year, NBHM as the State Implementing Agency envisaged venturing for other minor forest products such as Hill broom, Oyster Mushroom, Ginger and Nut gall,” he stated.
Yanthan said that the genesis of oyster mushroom cultivation begun in Wokha with a trail on few selected SHGs during the pandemic which eventually prompted the State implementing agency to embark on a larger scale after witnessing the prospects for marketing and consumption benefits.
The Team Leader jotted that, NBHM had registered 5700 beneficiaries in the Tribes of India portal and in the process of registering the SHG clusters to cooperative society under the Cooperation department, Government of Nagaland.
The Team Leader acknowledged the TRIFED for the implementation of the PMVDY scheme in the State that has substantially impacted the lives of people in Nagaland paving way for employment opportunities and income generation from grassroot level.
.jpg)