A REPORTER
SHILLONG: Focusing on giving a further boost to the Apiculture Mission in the State, Meghalaya Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister, Banteidor Lyngdoh on Tuesday distributed bee hives to master beekeepers and released the Mission Document of Apiculture Mission 2.0 in a function held at the Conference Hall, Directorate of Agriculture, Shillong.
Altogether 35 master beekeepers hailing from Ri Bhoi District, West Jaintia Hills District, East Jaintia Hills District, East Khasi Hills District, East West Khasi Hills District and South West Khasi Hills District received bee hives on the day. The programme was organized by the Directorate of Horticulture, Government of Meghalaya as part of the commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of Statehood.
Speaking on the occasion, Banteidor Lyngdoh stressed the importance of scientific bee rearing for larger production of honey. "Under Apiculture Mission 2.0, the government is committed to work closely with the farmers and get their feedback so that any intervention made will yield positive results," he said.
Urging bee keepers to come forward and approach the officers at the district level, he pointed out the importance of clarifying doubts for their benefit. Lamenting the procurement of local honey at low cost by companies from outside the State, which is then repackaged, branded and resold at a much higher cost, Lyngdoh stressed the need for proper branding and packing.
Meanwhile, Dr. Vijay Kumar, Commissioner and Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, Government of Meghalaya, in his address said that although the State boasts of a variety of honey and has a huge potential to produce quality honey, it is unfortunate that the State is still unable to fully leverage on this resource.
While a number of local entrepreneurs have been able to add value to honey through proper branding, he lamented the inability to create a value chain at the famers level wherein honey is yet to be produced at a larger scale and processed properly, packaged and sold in a way that gets the best price for farmers.
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