Tripura fast emerging as honey-producing state

A honey processing centre, which has been set up by Tripura Khadi and Village Industries Board, is playing a vital role to tap the state's potential in making honey.

Tripura is fast emerging as a honey producing destination. It also generates employment for many.

The honey processing unit was established in 2015 by Khadi and Village Industries Board. The unit is now equipped with latest processing machineries to improve the quality of the product.

Recently, Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Giriraj Singh visited the honey processing unit and announced support to natural products.

The government is laying stress on training more farmers to start bee-keeping to increase the honey production.

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"We have trained around 2,000 people for beekeeping in various villages. This year, our target is to train another 700 farmers. We have noticed high enthusiasm among trainees in various blocks and panchayats because this can be a very good income source for either educated or any illiterate person and it does not need much extra effort," said Gouri Das, Chairperson, Tripura Khadi and Village Industries Board.

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"We mainly collect honey from the bee keepers and do processing. There are around 400 bee keepers. After processing the honey we also do marketing for the product. I oversee the entire processing work in the unit," said Netai Debbarma, the in-charge of Honey Processing Centre.

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"Here we maintain the quality of the honey. There is huge demand of honey but the number of bee keepers is less as compared to the demand. Therefore, Khadi Board is trying to increase the number of bee keepers by organizing various training programmes and gradually it is increasing," said Subhankar Bhowmik, Chemist-cum-Quality Controller.

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The honey produced in Tripura has medicinal properties. Bees collect honey from various flowers beside teak, rubber and other trees.