Neiphiu Rio to boost beekeeping in Nagaland

DIMAPUR: Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio on Friday said the state can earn huge profits from the beekeeping and honey production sector without any investment and maintain the ecological balance of the state at the same time.
Rio said Nagaland is the hotspot of biodiversity, as 80% of the area is under forest cover and over 70% of the population is engaged in the farming sector, indicating that bees can survive here.
Inaugurating the multi-utility centre at Nagaland Honey Beekeeping and Honey Mission, the chief minister said bees can survive in Nagaland as the use for fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture was nominal here.
He said as states like Nagaland are landlocked and far away from mainland, it is very difficult to take up economic activities. "We cannot compete with the mainland or the international markets. Therefore, we need to exploit the resources available here using local skills and knowledge," he added.
As beekeeping and honey production hold high potential in the state, Nagaland honey would make a mark not only in the local market, but also outside the state in the years to come. He also informed that the production of honey had gone up from 120 metric tones to 350 metric tonnes in last five years. "We have a dream to increase the production from 350 metric tonnes to 5000 metric tonne," he said.
Earlier, the additional chief secretary and development commissioner, Alemtemshi Jamir, said Nagaland has tremendous potentials in beekeeping and honey production and there is a possibility of 60,000 tonnes of production in the state.
Jamir said if Nagaland can produce 50 tonnes of honey, it can become a major player in the economy of India.