Can Beekeeping Secure a Steady Income for Unemployed Youth in Haryana's Nuh?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
New Delhi, Dec 28 (NationPress) Beekeeping, the art of managing honeybee colonies within artificial hives for honey and wax, is emerging as a valuable source of employment and income generation for the unemployed youth in Haryana's Nuh district.
A significant number of young individuals, lacking formal education and the necessary skills for conventional jobs, are increasingly turning to the beekeeping industry.
With proper training and support from the government, these individuals are becoming self-sufficient and contributing to the region's honey production.
District Horticulture Officer Abdul Razzaq, in an interview with IANS, highlighted how beekeeping can serve as a lucrative income source for unemployed youth and how landless farmers can benefit from the horticulture department's initiatives.
Razzaq noted that 13 training centers have been established across the state, including facilities like KVK Mandkola and KVK Bhupani, where participants receive free lodging, meals, and transportation during the five-day training program.
“Post-training, bank loan assistance is also available. Each participant is provided with 50 wooden boxes, with the department covering 85% of the cost. The farmer's contribution amounts to just Rs 21,600,” he elaborated.
Individuals interested in obtaining the boxes should visit Ramnagar with their Family ID, Aadhaar card, and training certificate.
Each box holds eight to ten frames.
The Horticulture department further offers a financial aid of nearly Rs 85,000 for this endeavor.
Razzaq mentioned that each box can yield approximately 50 kg of honey annually.
Providing insights on the current production levels, he stated that five farmers in the district are utilizing nearly 800 beekeeping boxes, generating a total of 26,000 kg of honey each year.
He pointed out that if the honey is of high quality, it can fetch over 110 rupees per kilogram in the market, allowing youth involved in beekeeping to sell it profitably.
In cases where they struggle to find buyers, they can package the honey in drums and buckets and take it to Ramnagar, where they receive Rs 110 per kg.
“Unemployed youth can potentially earn around 3 lakh rupees annually through beekeeping,” he concluded.