The Nagaland Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM) marked the 7th Nagaland Honey Bee Day on Thursday with a renewed call for scientific beekeeping, financial literacy and ethical honey production to build a stronger honey-based rural economy. The program, held at NBHM’s Multi Utility Centre at Sovima, centred on the theme “Securing the future of Honey Enterprises through financial literacy.”
NBHM Chairman Obed Quinker said Nagaland holds a natural advantage in apiculture, with its pristine forests and rich floral diversity producing some of the finest honey varieties in the region. He said the growing interest of Naga youth in beekeeping reflects a promising future for rural entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods.
Quinker urged beekeepers to move beyond traditional extraction-based practices and adopt scientific methods focused on colony health, pollination services and biodiversity protection. Branding and quality assurance, he said, must become central to honey enterprises, adding that Nagaland’s ecological uniqueness offers a natural edge in national and global markets.
He also stressed that financial literacy is now essential for small entrepreneurs – from investment planning to accessing credit and navigating digital transactions – and said the collaboration with ICICI Foundation would help beekeepers make informed business decisions.
Quinker said NBHM, set up in 2007, has made significant progress despite challenges and aims to position Nagaland as a leading model for scientific beekeeping and honey entrepreneurship in India.
Delivering the keynote address, Deputy Team Leader Er Khuvozoyi Vese said Nagaland’s annual honey consumption stands at 192 grams per capita, far above the national average, creating strong potential for niche honey products and market expansion. He encouraged beekeepers to integrate entrepreneurship skills with improved practices and long-term investment planning.
A technical session on financial literacy, held in collaboration with ICICI Foundation, covered suitable investment schemes for small entrepreneurs, cyber fraud awareness and safe digital banking. The session was led by P. Motu, Branch Manager, ICICI Bank, followed by interactions with participants.
Short addresses were delivered by Pumgouthang, Zonal Head of ICICI Foundation, and NBHM team members, and the program concluded with a vote of thanks.
