Honey Mission celebrates 7th Nagaland Honey Bee Day

DIMAPUR — The Nagaland Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM) observed the 7th Nagaland Honey Bee Day on Friday at the NBHM’s Multi Utility Centre, Chümoukedima, on the theme “Securing the future of honey enterprises through financial literacy.’

Special guest and chairman of NBHM Obed Quinker, in his address, expressed appreciation for beekeepers' dedication and NBHM's efforts to uplift Nagaland's honey industry.

He emphasised that Nagaland stands on a unique ecological advantage, blessed with pristine forests and rare floral diversity that produce some of the finest honey varieties in the region. He also noted that the increasing interest of Naga youth in apiculture reflects a promising future for rural entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods.

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Quinker encouraged beekeepers to move beyond traditional practices and adopt scientific beekeeping methods, emphasising that modern apiculture is not just about honey extraction but about maintaining healthy colonies, promoting pollination, and safeguarding biodiversity.

He stressed the importance of branding and quality assurance, urging young entrepreneurs to highlight Nagaland’s natural uniqueness in their products to gain a competitive edge in national and international markets.

The NBHM chairman also highlighted the need for sustainable and ethical honey production, reminding participants that bees must be protected as essential contributors to food security and environmental balance.

Financial literacy, he said, plays a crucial role in helping entrepreneurs manage their ventures effectively — whether through investment planning, accessing credit, or navigating digital transactions. He expressed confidence that the collaboration with ICICI Foundation would empower beekeepers to make informed financial decisions.

Quinker reaffirmed NBHM’s commitment to nurturing a vibrant honey-based economy, stating that the mission has come a long way since 2007 despite facing many challenges.

With continued support from the Government of Nagaland, he said NBHM aims to make Nagaland a leading model for scientific beekeeping and honey entrepreneurship in the country. He concluded by encouraging the youth to dream boldly, innovate fearlessly, and build enterprises that leave a positive legacy for future generations.

Earlier, Khuvozoyi Vese, deputy team leader of NBHM, delivered the keynote address, stressing the importance of financial literacy for strengthening honey enterprises.

He shared that Nagaland’s honey consumption — 192 grams per capita annually, far higher than the national average — creates strong market potential for developing niche honey products. He urged participants to adopt entrepreneurship skills, improved beekeeping practices and long-term investment planning.

A short speech was delivered by Pumgouthang, zonal head of ICICI Foundation. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Nzambemo K Lotha, team member, NBHM.

A key highlight of the event was the technical session on financial literacy, held in collaboration with ICICI Foundation and moderated by Letgong Patrick and Chubanungla Shilu, team members of NBHM.

Resource person P Motu, Branch Manager of ICICI Bank, spoke on various investment schemes suitable for small entrepreneurs and conducted an awareness session on cyber fraud and safe digital banking.