ZIRO, 7 Mar: The GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, North East Regional Centre (GBPNIHE-NERC), in collaboration with the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), conducted a five-day training programme on ‘Climate-resilient beekeeping: Empowering women and youth for sustainable livelihoods through integrated farming’ here in Lower Subansiri district.
Fifteen participants, including representatives from the GBPNIHE-NERC and the KVIC, engaged in the hands-on training programme, which was aimed at equipping women and youths with knowledge and skills to practice sustainable and climate-resilient beekeeping.
The programme, which concluded on Friday, emphasised the importance of beekeeping in enhancing rural livelihoods, promoting biodiversity conservation, and ensuring climate adaptation in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.
The programme was coordinated by GBPNIHE-NERC Scientist-C Tridipa Biswas, who emphasised the vital role of beekeeping in strengthening climate-adaptive rural livelihoods. In her address, she highlighted how beekeeping serves as a low-investment, high-return practice that not only increases agricultural productivity through pollination but also enhances biodiversity conservation.
She underscored the importance of scientific training, capacity building, and market linkages to empower local communities, particularly women and youths, ensuring economic self-reliance and environmental sustainability. She reiterated the GBPNIHE’s commitment to fostering community-driven solutions that align with the Sustainable Development Goals.
KVIC representative Sankalpa Bhattacharya spoke about “beekeeping’s transformative potential in rural economic development,” and highlighted how honey production and its allied industries could create sustainable income opportunities, especially in remote Himalayan regions.
Resource person Padamsha Daimary conducted interactive sessions covering both theoretical and practical aspects of beekeeping.
The participants learned about hive management, honey extraction, and the ecological benefits of pollinators in agricultural productivity.
KVIC Director Amandeep and GBPNIHE-NERC Head Dr Devendra Kumar in their messages reiterated the need for climate-resilient livelihood strategies to empower local communities, particularly women and youths, ensuring long-term sustainability and self-reliance.
