Kohima: With an aim to encourage youths to take up beekeeping as a sustainable livelihood, Nagaland celebrated the sixth edition of Honey Bee Day on Thursday at multi-utility centre at 6th Mile, Sovima in Chumoukedima district.
The event was organized by the Nagaland Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) under the theme ‘Bee Vibes: Give Bees a Chance’.
Addressing the celebration as the special guest, Abu Metha, adviser to Nagaland CM and chairman of Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland, said there is a huge demand for Nagaland honey not only in India but also abroad.
He also announced that the Nagaland government is planning to convert the NBHM’s multi-utility centre into a museum for honey to introduce honey tourism in the state.
Calling beekeepers as the primary stakeholders in the state’s honey industry, he exhorted them to amalgamate traditional beekeeping practices with contemporary technologies to augment honey production.
Metha also advocated for documenting traditional beekeeping practices prevalent in the state.
He expressed his delight at the participation of students from schools and colleges in the celebration. He exhorted them to adopt beekeeping as a means of livelihood, as the honey industry in Nagaland offers significant scope and future prospects.
NBHM is extending all possible support, including technological knowhow, to help the bee farmers in the state.
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Metha highlighted bees’ role in ecosystem protection and economic growth, emphasizing honey’s health benefits and diverse uses.
He also urged increased cooperation between the state government and NBHM to assist beekeepers.
