Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said Nagaland can support 22 lakh bee colonies under the Nagaland Beekeeping and Honey Mission with a potential annual output of 10,000 metric tonnes of honey.
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KOHIMA — Nagaland has the potential to support up to 22 lakh bee colonies capable of producing 10,000 metric tonnes (MT) of honey and 10 MT of beeswax annually under the Nagaland Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM), Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said on Thursday.
In a post on X, Rio said the NBHM promotes honey production while preserving indigenous apiculture traditions and supporting sustainable livelihoods. He said the mission focuses on strengthening scientific beekeeping practices while protecting diverse bee species and their natural habitats.
Recalling that the NBHM was launched in 2017 by the state government, the chief minister said the mission aims to strengthen livelihoods and conserve biodiversity through beekeeping and honey-based enterprises. He reiterated that Nagaland has the capacity to support 22 lakh bee colonies with a potential annual yield of 10,000 MT of honey and 10 MT of beeswax.
Rio said that following interventions under the mission, the state’s current honey output stands at 440 MT.
Highlighting traditional practices, he said rearing of Apis cerana himalaya is an age-old practice in Nagaland and is closely intertwined with the socio-religious rituals of Naga tribes. He noted that around 1,20,000 Apis cerana colonies — including both traditional and scientific hives — are currently being reared in the state, producing an estimated 320 MT of honey annually.
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He also said Nagaland has an estimated 30,000 rock bee (Apis dorsoto) colonies existing in the wild, of which only about 10 per cent are currently being harvested.
According to the chief minister, the NBHM promotes sustainable livelihoods through beekeeping while preserving traditional practices and rock bee habitats. He added that the mission also works to promote traditional harvesting techniques, improve quality and marketability, and enhance income opportunities for beekeepers.
Rio further noted that stingless bee honey, which has a sweet and sour bush flavour that changes with the seasons, yields only about one kilogram per hive annually, compared to around 75 kilograms from commercial bees. He said stingless bee honey is known for its medicinal properties and is traditionally used to treat ailments such as injuries, burns, dysentery, cholera, cough, rheumatism, and bites from snakes, spiders and other poisonous insects.
He added that value-added products under the NBHM include lip balm, soothing balm, food wrap and wax candles.