World Honey Day observed

Bamboo box makes bee-keeping a low-cost venture

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Aug 19: Human body needs honey for many a reason. It is used for destroying bacteria, as energy food, as digestive, for making skin shine, for sound sleep and whatnot. Earlier it was used as a medicine in Sumerian clay tablets, maybe, around 4,000 years yore.

The third Saturday of August is celebrated as the World Honey Day every year. Here in Guwahati, Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship celebrated the Day. The institute has appealed to all bee-keeping fraternity to promote the unique low-cost bee boxes made out of bamboo – first of its kind in the Northeastern region. This will encourage the villagers to take to bee-keeping. 

For the past seven months, the institute has successfully trained 250 people on bee keeping and honey processing through Oil Jeevika, a CSR project supported by Indian Oil Limited, Duliajan in five interior villages at Diyun circle, Changlang district, Aruchal Pradesh.

Addressing the media, Dr Sripar B Baruah, head of the centre for Industrial Extension, IIE, said: “Since bamboo is in abundance in the rural areas of the NE region, bamboo boxes are suitable for bee colonies as bamboo maintains a healthy temperature inside the box, leading to increase in honey production.” According to her, many unemployed get established with jobs through vocation.

She said, “We’ve already trained many tribal workers, and all of them are now busy in working. They have also involved their neighbours in the business.”

IIE Director Moj Kumar Das said: “IIE is always in search of newer and innovative techniques. I’m optimistic that this initiative will make bee-keeping and honey production a dividend-paying vocation in the region.”