An innovative programme on scientific beekeeping will be implemented by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) to benefit tribal women. Although the tribal women are familiar with beekeeping, their conventional method does not guarantee adequate returns. A good number of honeybees are destroyed or killed during collection of honey and the byproducts. To avoid this, the scientific approach will involve many equipment such as ‘honeybee pollen trap’, ‘bee venom collector’, ‘royal jelly extractor’, ‘queen rearer’ ‘solo super’ and ‘comb honey collector’.
A group of 50 tribal women recently underwent a seven-day training imparted jointly by National Bee Board and Hand-in-Hand, a service organisation implementing ‘Integrated Tribal Development Programme’ sponsored by NABARD.
S. Rakesh, co-ordinator for Tamil Nadu, said in the conventional method, a large number of young bees, larvae and eggs were destroyed while collecting honey. “In the scientific approach, the quantum of honey gathered will be thrice over the conventional method. Further, the honey will be more hygienic,” he said.
