In a major push toward rural entrepreneurship and women-led economic growth, the Nagaland Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) conducted the State’s first-ever training on value addition of honey and its by-products at the Multi Utility Centre, Chümoukedima, on February 18 and 19.
The two-day intensive program brought together 25 trainers from Self Help Groups (SHGs) and Village Development and Value Chain Committees (VDVKs) representing 17 districts, signalling a coordinated effort to strengthen the beekeeping value chain across Nagaland.
Inaugurating the program, Sentiwapang Aier, Secretary to the Chief Minister and Team Leader of NBHM, described the initiative as a transformative step for the sector. He urged participants to grow collectively and maximize the opportunity, stating that the training was designed not only to enhance product development skills but also to build financial literacy, resource management capacity, and entrepreneurial confidence- particularly among women.
The training featured hands-on practical sessions. On the first day, participants learned to produce beeswax-based products including balms, food wraps, candles, and wax blocks. The second day focused on food processing techniques, hygiene standards, equipment usage, honey wine preparation, development of value-added honey products, packaging, labelling, branding, marketing strategies, and value chain development.
Participants acknowledged that beeswax had previously been discarded without recognizing its commercial potential. The sessions highlighted sustainable utilization of by-products, opening new avenues for income generation. One trainee remarked that “even the bees would be proud of us for making judicious use of all natural resources.”
Resource persons included NBHM’s technical team and Lovi Achumi, Proprietor of Tsuipu Food Products. The valedictory session was attended by OP Mounglang, DGM of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), who encouraged participants to translate their newly acquired skills into viable and sustainable enterprises.
With participation from 17 districts, the initiative marks a significant step toward boosting value addition, strengthening rural livelihoods, and accelerating growth in Nagaland’s beekeeping sector.
