Worry abuzz that coal exploration affecting bee population

Our Correspondent
Mokokchung, Feb. 7 (EMN): An official of the state’s Nagaland Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM) has expressed worry that coal exploration in Mokokchung district may be leading to a decrease in the population of bees, which is a dangerous turn for any ecosystem be it the environment or for humans.
A meeting with members of village beekeepers’ committees (VBKC) in the district was held in the MMC hall in Mokokchung town on February 7. The meeting was organized by the Nagaland Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM). More than 60 beekeepers from 28 villages in the district attended the event.

T Imtiwapang Aier, deputy secretary and team leader of the NBHM addressed the meeting. Aier said that the tour to the districts and conducting meetings with villages was meant to gather inputs which would help the mission in formulating a policy that can be implemented practically.

Taking serious note of a disturbing report about coal mining in Mangkolemba, the NBHM’s team leader observed that environmental effects caused by coal exploitation in the area may have destroyed the natural habitat of bees, which is decreasing the population of bees in the area.

Also, Aier expressed worry and apprehension that exploitation of coal was not only affecting the bees’ habitats but also decreasing food production and wildlife in the coal-belt areas.
The officer lamented that the NBHM was in hibernation mode for some years, which he said may have caused setbacks to many enthusiastic beekeepers in their business endeavour ‘because the mission was facing fund constraints.’
Aier assured the beekeepers that the NBHM had embarked on a policy to provide logistics support and other related assistance to genuine beekeepers.

The officer said further that the meeting was conducted to share success stories and innovative ideas among members of the various VBKC blocks. Such an interaction will pave way for result-oriented beekeeping practices and honey production in the district. He suggested to the beekeepers in the district to form a beekeepers’ federation or association.

Aier opined that the formation of an association in the district will not help them to solve problems faced by the VBKC blocks. Likewise, they can channelize various schemes and facilities from the allied sectors for the benefit of beekeepers in the district too, the gathering was told.

A member of the NBHM team and the person in-charge of Mokokchung district, Chubala, highlighted the scope and merits of apiculture in Mokokchung district. She asserted that the beekeepers in the district practice ‘scientific beekeeping’ and that they possess the skills and knowledge about modern apiculture. This is a plus point for huge returns from honey production in the district, she said.
The mission member added that availability of cash crop plantations in the district was another factor that would contribute to the progress and development of the honey industry.