Guwahati: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Tuesday inaugurated a Rs 1.52-crore Apiculture Multi-Facility Centre-cum-Processing Unit at Mellim in South West Garo Hills, announcing plans to establish a dedicated Bee Museum and Interpretation Centre to promote the state’s organic honey sector.
The Mellim facility, located under the Rerapara Block, will handle honey collection, processing, quality testing, bottling, packaging, and marketing, alongside the local manufacturing of bee boxes.
Speaking at the launch event, attended by MLAs Mehtab Chandee A. Sangma, Sanjay Sangma, and Subir Marak, the Chief Minister said the centre aims to transition local beekeepers toward scientific production, colony management, and direct market linkage beyond simple equipment distribution.
The project forms part of the state’s Apiculture Mission 2.0, currently spanning 87 clusters across 12 districts and supporting 6,491 registered beekeepers.
Under the initiative, the government has distributed over 32,400 bee boxes and thousands of equipment sets.
Official figures show that 39 clusters under Phase III alone generated 157.69 metric tonnes of honey during 2024–25.
Sangma said the proposed Bee Museum will feature digital displays explaining apiculture processes to promote eco-tourism and strengthen the honey brand.