Department of Information and Public Relations

Press Release No. 19/15

GRAND LAUNCH OF STATE APICULTURE MISSION FOR GARO HILLS AT ASANANG

TURA, Jan 14, 2014: The Meghalaya State Apiculture Mission was officially launched for Garo Hills by the Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma at a mammoth gathering at Asanang, 18 km from Tura on Wednesday.

The Mission is being implemented by Department of Commerce & Industries in partnership with Meghalaya Institute of Entrepreneurship (MIE) under IBDLP to upscale and promote apiculture as an organized industrial enterprise that will provide livelihood, gainful employment opportunities, improve rural economy and enhance the ecological system of the State.

Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that the Mission, which had already been launched in Shillong, was being launched separately for Garo Hills so that maximum number of people could come and join in. He said that having learnt from the past experiences when a number of projects failed to deliver, his government have strategized and planned the programme in such a way that can provide sustainable livelihood to the people. However, no mission can become a success without the support and involvement of the people, he added.

Although 80 percent of India’s population are farmers we still import honey from outside, the place which could have been taken by our people, Dr. Sangma said and stressed the need to brand the product from the region saying that honey produced in Garo Hills is organic. Referring to the mortality of bees in certain areas due to excessive use of chemicals, he emphasized on the need to create a sustainable and healthy environment, saying only healthy farms can lead to healthy bees, adding that the launch of Mission Organic in the State can ensure that the nectar ingested by the bees are organic. Once the honey produced here is certified as organic, the farmers can get higher returns from their products, he said. He also called for proper documentation of medicinal properties and health benefits of honey.

The Chief Minister also said that there is huge scope for diversification of products in apiculture, and with so much exclusivity in the region, Garo Hills can become the hub of many manufacturing units, he added. “The Government intends to generate huge space for entrepreneurship and with the launch of Apiculture Mission let us look forward to hear success stories transforming the socio-economic lives of the people of the region,” he said.

Attending the launch as the guest of honour, local MLA & Parliamentary Secretary, C&RD, N. R. Marak, expressed his gratitude to the Chief Minister for his far-sighted approach to development and said that the launch of the Mission would create a lot of livelihood opportunities for the people of his area which is ideal for beekeeping activities.

Earlier, Principal Secretary, Planning & CEO, Meghalaya Basin Development Authority, Pankaj Jain, briefly highlighted on the Mission, the training of the Master trainers, development of packaging solutions and also informed about the move to open State Apiculture Institute. Executive Director of National Bee Board, Dr. B.L. Sarswat and Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills Pravin Bakshi were among others who also spoke on the occasion. A beekeeping exhibition, live demonstrations, presentation of beekeeping kits to selected Master beekeepers by the Chief Minister and a cultural program were also held to mark the launch of the Mission.