Meghalaya chief minister Conrad K. Sangma on Tuesday laid the foundation stone of the Integrated Beekeeping Development Centre (IBDC) at Sambrak Seed Farm in North Garo Hills.
The first of its kind project in Meghalaya is estimated to cost Rs.10 crore.
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The project has been funded by the union ministry of tribal affairs.
The foundation laying ceremony was also attended by deputy speaker Timothy D. Shira, Kharkutta MLA Rupert Momin, Bajengdoba MLA Pongseng M Sangma and other dignitaries.
The central government is promoting beekeeping industry through a centrally sponsored scheme –Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) scheme, under a component “Pollination Support through Beekeeping”.
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Also read: Meghalaya has huge potential in beekeeping: National Bee Board ED
National Bee Board (NBB) has been designated as the nodal agency for promoting scientific beekeeping under NHM/MIDH.
Talking about the government’s mission to promote honey, Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma said, “We have been working with different stakeholders with a sole focus on the preservation, propagation and scientific farming of the indigenous bee of the state.”
He informed that around 6,000 beekeepers in the state and a total of 7,000 plus people have been trained in beekeeping by the Meghalaya Institute of Entrepreneurship (MIE).
Considering the availability in terms of bee pasturage, Meghalaya has been rated as one of the best regions for beekeeping, the Meghalaya CM claimed.
Laid the foundation for the Integrated Beekeeping Development Centre at Sambrak, funded by @TribalAffairsIn.
Hon’ble PM @narendramodi ji has emphasised the role of honey bees & honey industry for the growth of rural economy & Govt is committed to work towards this objective. pic.twitter.com/1g7Ar9SNdx— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) January 14, 2020
The Meghalaya CM said, “The state has immense beekeeping potential, however, due to lack of knowledge and information about the scope, the farmers have not been able to reap the optimum benefits.”
Meghalaya envisages tapping the potential of about 5 lakh honey bee colonies while the existing bee colonies are 16,728 (only 3% of the estimated potential).
It is expected that the setting up of the Integrated Bee Development Centre (IBDC) will enable the state to further boost the honey bee industry.
IBDC will help in the overall sustainable development of scientific and robust beekeeping in the state.
The beekeeping development centre, which will also function as an information and demonstration unit, will cover at least 20-25 acres of land.