Our Correspondent
Kohima, Dec. 5 (EMN): Nagaland Chief Secretary Temjen Toy has urged the Nagaland Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) to make extra efforts to promote beekeeping in Nagaland. He was speaking at the 2nd Nagaland Honey Bee Day organised by the NBHM in honour of beekeepers in Nagaland, on Thursday at the Heritage in Kohima.
Temjen Toy acknowledged the pioneers of the NBHM for having thought to promote beekeeping and engage the honey mission. He said the NBHM has come a long way and that the production of honey has increased.
“There are more honey beekeepers in Nagaland today,” he added while lauding the team members of NBHM for bringing the ‘state thus far.’
Referring to the annual honey production of Nagaland, which is about 430 metric tons, he urged the NBHM team to continue to put more effort as the state has the potential to produce even more honey.
“Every household in Nagaland is a potential beekeeper,” the chief secretary said and appealed the NBHM to ‘spread the good news of the mission.’
Temjen Toy observed that honey production should not only concern with the income generation of the farmers but make ‘Nagaland a honey destination.’ He further looked forward to a ‘better and sweeter Nagaland.’
Khekato Jimomi from Zunheboto, while sharing his success stories, said he has been into honey farming for 13 years. Jimomi, a self-taught bee farmer, apprised the gathering that he is able to support his family and send his children to private schools with the income generated through honey production.
He spoke of the ‘God’s given land,’ which is rich with natural resources and reminded the youth about the scope of beekeeping as a profession which is self-sustaining.
Kezevilie Pienyü, a part-time beekeeper from Kohima, has lauded NBHM for helping him with beekeeping equipment and training. He said the ‘scientific training’ in beekeeping had ‘greatly increased his production.”
Pienyü, who holds an LLB degree from Shillong Law College, informed that currently, he has 75 bee colonies from where he produced 180 kg of honey and generated a gross total amounting to INR 1.62 lakh during the last summer.
Another progressive bee farmer, Cirayi Nyekha, who hails from Phek district, recounted how the officials imparted training and distributed various beekeeping kits to the farmers in the year 1990.
Ever since then, at least 5 to 19 households in Khutsa village own five boxes of honey bees, Nyekha stated.
With all the necessary help extended by the NBHM officials, Nyekha planned to buy a car with the money generated from honey farming.
The 2nd edition of the Nagaland Honey Bee Day was observed on the theme “Save bees, save life.”
"From day one when the honey mission was born, efforts have been made for the upliftment of our key partners – the beekeepers for whom the occasion is being celebrated," stated Bokali Chikhe, a team member of NBHM.
She briefed the gathering that there has been a change of attitude of producers in at the grassroots. “As farmer exploit forest ecosystem for economic reasons, scientific beekeeping is a profitable alternative to prevent forest exploitation with plantation drive to replace cutting down of trees,” she remarked.
Nagaland governor, RN Ravi, visited the bee stalls at the venue and interacted with the beekeepers.
District-level best beekeeper awards were conferred to Shehuto Zhimomi from Dimapur, Kiusangthong from Kiphire, Kevizelie Pienyu from Kohima, Yampa from Longleng, Ningsangwati Kichu from Mokokchung, KP Sangte from Mon,
Juhie Khate from Peren, Hekiamong Yimchunger from Tuensang, Wapon Kikon from Wokha, and Hetoyi Yeptho from Zunheboto.
State-level best beekeeper was awarded to Chirayi from Phek district, while the best village beekeeping community was awarded to Yakor village in Tuensang district.