Project Madhu Shakti to Empower Rural Women through Beekeeping

The Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Narayangaon and the Central Beekeeping Research & Training Institute (CBRTI), Pune launched the Madhu Shakti - a project focused on empowering rural women through beekeeping on 14th August, 2019. The project is being financially assisted by the Bee Positive and PHD-Rural Development Foundation, New Delhi.

The Chief Guest, Dr. Ashok Dalwai, Chief Executive Officer, National Rainfed Area Authority, New Delhi launched the initiative by presenting the beekeeping kits to the 100 women beneficiaries of the project. Dr. Dalwai emphasized on Beekeeping and its value-added products through honey as one of the main components in doubling the farmers’ income. He mentioned about the focus of Government of India on the creation of Sweet Revolution by the adoption of apiary.

Dr. Lakhan Singh, Director, ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Pune highlighted significance of beekeeping. He cited the example of a woman entrepreneur who earned about Rs. 3 lakh in a year as net income with 35 bee boxes. Dr. Lakhan assured of establishing Beekeeping Units at each KVK. He emphasized on organizing programmes for capacity building, entrepreneurial motivation and awareness about the Beekeeping among the rural youths.

Dr. Lakshmi Rao, Assistant Director, CBRTI, Pune emphasized on training the women folks on harvesting the high-value beehive products like Bee Pollen & Royal Jelly, etc. This could help in fetching them good results. He also stated about the CBRTI’s special Royal Jelly Processing Unit that can be utilized by the women groups.

Around 300 women participants attended a Sensitization Workshop held in June at the KVK, Narayangaon. After the workshop, a hundred of these women were enrolled for the Madhu Shakti Project. They will now be trained through the classroom and practical sessions to be held from 19th to 30th August, 2019 at the KVK, Narayangaon for certifying them as certified Beekeepers.