DIMAPUR — With an objective to get first-hand experience and interact with beekeepers, a team of officials from Nagaland Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) led by its chairman, Obed Quinker, and the team leader, Sentiwapang Aier, along with 8 members and two project assistants undertook a tour of three districts namely Wokha, Mokokchung and Tseminyu from May 15 to the 17th.
During the tour, the team conducted sensitisation and awareness programmes on Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVK) being implemented by NBHM with the support from Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India.
An update from NBHM stated that the team visited two villages in Wokha namely N Longidang and Changsu New on May 15, wherein the representatives of two VDVK were sensitised on Van Dhan programme under PMJVM scheme.
On May 16, the team conducted a sensitisation programme with Khensa VDVK, Chungtia VDVK, Ungma VDVK and Sungratsu VDVK at the multi-purpose hall in Khensa village, while in Tseminyu the programme was organised at Phentejon Bamboo Model Village on May 17 for Phentejon VDVK with members from neighboring cluster villages.
It stated that the chairman, in his speeches, appreciated the farming communities for their zeal and enthusiasm and encouraged them to actively participate in implementing the scheme and make it into a success story. He also encouraged the beneficiaries and the stakeholders of the Van Dhan programme to never lose the hard-working culture of the Nagas.
He informed that the VDVK scheme being implemented by NBHM was meant to benefit the public at large and the farming communities in particular and expressed hope that it would go a long way in empowering the stakeholders through various trainings and skilling programmes. He further encouraged the stakeholders to set goals and work with a visionary zeal and also serve as a model for others.
Meanwhile, the team leader expressed happiness to note that many villages across Nagaland have taken up bee rearing. He has attributed the success largely to the continued hard work, passion and dedication by the beekeeping community.
He informed that TRIFED has come forward to support NBHM in setting up VDVK in all the 16 districts of the state. While highlighting the various aspects of the programme, he stated that the Van Dhan programme was a little different than the usual beekeeping activities as it is cluster-based with one VDVK comprising of 300 beneficiaries mostly comprising of different SHG members working as one big cohesive unit.
He urged the VDVK of the three districts to take up the responsibility to ensure successful implementation of the scheme for their economic uplift by utilising various forest resources found in their villages and surrounding cluster areas. Ne further encouraged the beekeepers to continue upholding their beekeeping trade and contribute to the biodiversity conservation through the pollination services of honeybees.
The team also visited apiary (bee farm) at N Longidang under Wokha district as well as at Chungtia, Yisemyong and Yimchalu in Mokokchung district. During the field visits, the team interacted with new upcoming beekeepers, who have taken up beekeeping as part of integrated farming with support from NBHM. The team also inspected and took stock of the various bee species being reared and learned from the beekeeper’s experiences.
Besides, the team took note of various challenges and problems faced by the beekeepers as well as their requirements and encouraged them to continue their good beekeeping practices.
The team made a stopover at ‘Healing Home’ in Terogunyu village under Tseminyu district on May 17. It mentioned that at ‘Healing Home,’ trained practitioners of Apitherapy (Bee venom therapy) administer bee sting therapy to many patients with various ailments. It stated that the team got an experience of bee venom therapy via bee stings at the centre.
Report stated that various leaders, village council members and representatives of SHG spoke during the events in the three districts.
It stated that team member and coordinator of TRIFED, Mhathung Tsopoe, spoke on the scheme and educated the VDVK on the importance of value additions and harnessing the wealth of the forest and converting them into various value-added products and to market their products in various markets outside the state.
It further stated that the tour to three districts has been productive in reaching out to the grassroots and gave impetus to NBHM to retrospect, set goals and move forward with renewed energy.