Under its Honey Mission initiative, the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has distributed bee boxes among farmers and unemployed youths across Hailakandi district.

Altogether 26 beneficiaries were imparted training by master trainers following which bee-hive boxes and tool kits were distributed by KVIC in collaboration with Nature Learning Centre at Kukicherra forest range of the district, KVIC executive Bijay Kumar Singh said.

The commission has distributed 10 bee boxes with iron stand, one bee veil, one bee smoker and hive tool to each beneficiary, he added.

“The KVIC has also provided beekeepers practical training about examination of honeybee colonies, acquaintance with apicultural equipment, identification and management of bee enemies and diseases, honey extraction and wax purification and management of bee colonies,” Singh said.

“It is also a low-investment and low-input business enterprise that directly generates economic gains,” Singh added.

Deputy commissioner Keerthi Jalli said bee-keeping would open many job avenues for the unemployed youths and aspiring young entrepreneurs in the district.

Being the nodal agency of Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), KVIC provides loans for setting up units of processing, packaging and labelling units for the honey, Singh said.

Honey Mission was launched in August 2017 in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for Sweet Revolution in 2016.