Meghalaya News

NEHU transforms rural village into honey village in West Garo Hills

Sentinel Digital Desk

TURA: Prof PS Shukla, Vice-Chancellor, North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong inaugurated the adoption of honey village in the presence of SG Momin (MCS, BDO, Gembegre Block), Prof. Sujata Guru Dev (Campus i/c, NEHU, Tura Campus), and Dr R. Sasikumar (Nodal Officer, Incubation Centre, NEHU, Tura Campus).

Frederick A Sangma (Functional Manager, DCIC Tura & Nodal Officer, Apiculture Mission) gave a short introduction about the programme. He demonstrated to the people how beekeeping will help in the development of the village by improving the livelihood of the future generations.

Dr R. Sasikumar expressed his journey toward the adoption of honey village. He with his team contacted DCIC Tura and joined hands to work for Apiculture Mission. They conducted skill training for potential apiculture farmers in the incubation centre of NEHU, Tura campus.

A total of 150 apiculture farmers were identified from five villages, namely Aminda Ading, Aminda Rangsa, Aminda Simsanggre, and Chigitchakgre village, from Gambegre C&RD blocks, West Garo Hills, Meghalaya. The apiculture farmer were trained successfully and input support were distributed. Each Apiculture Input Support kit includes bee boxes, bee nets, extractors, and other equipment and was funded under North East Hill (NEH) Scheme, ICAR. He also stated that more Apiculture Input Supports will be provided based on the performance of the farmers.

The NEHU programme was implemented by ICAR-NIBSM, Raipur, Chhattisgarh in collaboration with NEHU at Meghalaya, from 2019 for the welfare and socio-economic development of farmers in the north-eastern region (NER).

Speaking on the occasion, the chief guest, Prof. PS Shukla, Vice Chancellor of North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong said he was deeply overwhelmed and cherished the initiative taken by Aminda Ading, Aminda Rangsa, Aminda Simsanggre and Chigitchakgre village, and the residents for their decision to rear bees in each and every household.

The Incubation Centre, NEHU Tura campus will extend all type of support such as capacity building programme, technical input supports, quality assurance, trade mark and branding, and intelligent marketing at domestic and international level. Prof PS Shukla also assured that the Incubation Centre, NEHU will sign buy-back agreement with appropriate governing bodies to popularize wild organic honey from Meghalaya origin into the international market, stated a press release.

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