When a swarm of bees settled near his home in Leankonger village nearly five years ago, Tsangmong could not see them. He heard them.
Blind since childhood due to illness, the 37-year-old from Shamator district relied on sound, touch and instinct to locate the swarm, gently transferring it into a handmade box. That moment marked the unlikely beginning of a beekeeping journey that has since earned him an affectionate title from scientists and trainers alike: the Miracle Beekeeper.
Tsangmong’s story emerged during scientific beekeeping training programmes conducted from 19–27 January 2026 under the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM), implemented by the National Bee Board (NBB). Among dozens of trainees, his quiet determination stood out.
With no formal training and limited resources, Tsangmong taught himself apiculture by observing, listening and experimenting. Using locally available materials, he builds semi-traditional bee boxes by hand and manages his colonies independently. Progress was slow at first, but persistence paid off. Today, he maintains four active colonies and harvests honey several times a year.
Perhaps most remarkable is how he knows when to harvest. Tsangmong lifts each box and judges its readiness by weight alone experience replacing eyesight, confidence replacing doubt.
His journey is a powerful reminder of the inclusive potential of apiculture. Scientific beekeeping, often viewed through the lens of productivity and profit, becomes in Tsangmong’s hands a tool of empowerment- proving that physical limitations need not define opportunity.
During one of the training sessions in Leankonger village, Bodi Kapfo, SDO (Civil), Shamator district, formally handed over a scientific bee box to Tsangmong, acknowledging both his skill and his resilience.
The training and demonstration programs were conducted across Eastern Nagaland to strengthen farmer capacities, promote scientific beekeeping practices, enhance rural livelihoods and improve oilseed crop productivity through organised apiculture. The initiative is funded by the National Bee Board, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, under the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission.
Implemented by the School of Agricultural Sciences, Nagaland University, Medziphema Campus, the project is led by Dr Mary N Odyuo, Associate Professor and Principal Investigator, with Dr Avinash Chauhan, Scientist, AICRP on Honey Bee and Pollinators, serving as Co-Principal Investigator. Both also act as Course Directors for the program.