WAMUL resumes training programme on beekeeping in Guwahati

GUWAHATI: West Assam Milk Union Limited (WAMUL), popularly known as Purabi Dairy, on Monday commenced the second batch of the training programme in scientific beekeeping under the Mini Mission-I of the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) at the Purabi Dairy Campus in Guwahati.

According to a press release, this project is envisaged to create Beekeepers Farmer-Producer Organizations (FPOs)/Honey Cluster in WAMUL's operational areas of Hajo under Kamrup district, thus creating a new source of livelihood for the milk producers along with the existing dairy value chain.

The training will be delivered by 'Tanishk Graamin Seva Sansthan' and has 25 participants from the Hajo area. The training programme will conclude on March 27.

National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), in association with National Bee Board (NBB), has sponsored a scientific beekeeping training program under Mini Mission-I of NBHM to help augment dairy farmers' income through allied activities. WAMUL has been empanelled by NDDB as the Cluster Based Business Organization for formation of Honey FPO and development of Honey cluster under the FPO scheme of the Government of India.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had earlier highlighted that to increase farmers' income, WAMUL should integrate allied activities like biogas, biomanure, beekeeping etc. This training programme is a step forward in that direction. The training programme will also lead to additional income for the local dairy farmers, which is a step towards the "Doubling Farmers' Income" aim envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Milk unions in other parts of India are effectively using their infrastructure for procurement and marketing of honey and are providing quality honey to its customers.

NDDB has been designated as the implementing agency under NBHM, and WAMUL is committed to make this programme an immense success in Assam. It will also provide marketing support for the farmers' produce through its well-established network of milk and milk products in the State.

NDDB has been managing West Assam Milk Producers' Cooperative Union Limited since 2008 and at present WAMUL stands as an exemplary model of a successful dairy cooperative. WAMUL as a cooperative organization has been able to turn around its operations under the management of NDDB.

The National Beekeeping and Honey Mission was announced by the Union Government as part of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat package in 2020. The scheme is aimed at the overall development and promotion of scientific beekeeping in India to achieve the objectives of the Sweet Revolution. Development of beekeeping will also generate employment in rural India and has potential of augmenting income of farmers. It may be mentioned that honeybees are vital in sustaining plant biodiversity, and beekeeping acts as a catalyst in increasing yield of major agricultural and horticultural crops through cross pollination.

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