Medziphema: A seven-day training programme on scientific beekeeping began on 9 February 2026 at the School of Agricultural Sciences (SAS), Nagaland University, and will continue until 15 February.
The programme brings together 25 participants from Noklak, Sirhima, and Medziphema villages, aiming to strengthen skills, raise ecological awareness, and promote sustainable livelihoods through scientific apiculture.
The inaugural session was attended by Obed Quinker, chairman of the Nagaland Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM). Speaking to the participants, Quinker highlighted the ecological importance of bees beyond honey production, underscoring their role in biodiversity conservation and pollination.
He underlined NBHM’s focus on promoting native bee species, particularly Apis cerana, and stressed the urgent need for scientific data on beekeeping and pollinators in Nagaland. Quinker also expressed NBHM’s interest in collaborating with SAS, Nagaland University, on research, documentation, and field-based interventions.
Dipak Sinha, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Nagaland University, Medziphema Campus, thanked the funding agency for supporting the programme and commended the implementing team for their efforts. He noted the university’s role in advancing agriculture through teaching, research, and development, highlighting initiatives under its AICRP centres and institutional projects.
Sinha also suggested formalizing such training into certificate-based skill development courses to boost employability and entrepreneurship among rural youth.
Pauline Alila, Dean of SAS, lauded the participants for their enthusiasm and willingness to learn, noting that farmers remain the backbone of the rural economy. She stressed that active participation is key to the success of agricultural innovations and highlighted the role of bees in pollination, agricultural productivity, and ecosystem sustainability.
The training programme, led by Mary N. Odyuo, associate professor and principal investigator, and Avinash Chauhan, co-principal investigator, combines classroom sessions with hands-on practical exposure to scientific beekeeping, focusing on native bee species, colony management, and ecological perspectives.
A similar seven-day training programme was recently conducted at Hekeshe Village from 2 to 8 February 2026, reflecting the project’s ongoing outreach across Nagaland.
The current programme at SAS is expected to strengthen local capacities, promote data-driven apiculture practices, support sustainable livelihoods, and reinforce the ecological importance of bees in agriculture.
