28-07-2025
Beekeeping training launched for villagers in Ganjam to promote sustainable livelihoods
Berhampur: In a bid to provide sustainable livelihoods to villagers residing on the fringes of forests, especially those facing human-elephant conflict, Ghumusar north forest division in Ganjam district on Monday launched a skill development initiative focusing on beekeeping in collaboration with the Odisha Khadi and Village Industries Board (OKVIB).
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The programme will be implemented under Banayana, an initiative of the ongoing Odisha Forestry Sector Development Project (OFSDP) for sustainable management of forest and biodiversity and to provide livelihoods to the villagers near forest areas.
Under the initiative, a seven-day training by the forest division on beekeeping commenced at Tarsingi, where several people, especially women in the area, participated.
The participants received hands-on training in honeybee biology, hive and bee colony management, honey extraction, wax processing and the impact of anthropogenic factors on bee life cycles, sources said. Siba Kumar Panda, an expert in beekeeping, conducted the training session.
Himansu Sekhar Mohanty, divisional forest officer Ghumusar north division, said it was the first such collaborative initiative between the forest department and OKVIB in Berhampur forest circle.
He added that they would continue technical support to the villagers in the post-training period.
OKVIB secretary Sanjay Kumar Mishra, while highlighting different aspects of the beekeeping practice, said it would provide an opportunity to make a good earning with less investment. "Besides helping to earn livelihoods for the villagers, it will also save the environment," he added.
The officials have also assured to facilitate the marketing of honey after production through khadi stores of the OKVIB outlets and Banani forest stores in Bhanjanagar and some other areas in the district.
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Banayana is being implemented by the forest and environment department with assistance from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) from 2017-18 to 2026-27 in 14 forest divisions in 10 districts in the state, including Ghumusar north. The project cost is over Rs 1,000 crore and its aim is to enhance the forest ecosystem with sustainable livelihood of the forest-dependent communities, sources said.
