Beekeeping : 100 women from rural Maharashtra launch their journey towards ‘Economic Independence’
Pune, August 18, 2019 : Social startup BeePositive in association with PHD-Rural Development Foundation, New Delhi, has launched BeePositive — MadhuShakti – a project focused on empowering rural women through beekeeping. One hundred women from rural Maharashtra have begun their journey towards ‘Economic Independence’.
BeePositive was set up with the sole purpose of empowering rural women. The initiative was mentored & awarded by IIT Delhi and the Department of Science & Technology for its work to promote sustainable livelihoods for rural communities. Dr Ashok Dalwai who is the CEO of National Rainfed Area Authority and also the Chairman of the Committee on Doubling of Farmers’ Income was the Chief Guest. He launched the initiative by presenting beekeeping kits to the hundred women beneficiaries of BeePositive – MadhuShakti.
The other guests at the event were Shri Deep Varma, Director, CBRTI, Dr Lakhan Singh, Director, ICAR- ATARI, Pune, Dr Lakshmi Rao, Assistant Director, CBRTI, Krishiratna Aniltatya Meher, Chairman KVK Narayangaon and Kanupriya Saigal, Founder, BeePositive. The launch event was held at the Yashada auditorium in Pune. MadhuShakti is being implemented in Narayangaon with the expert support of CBRTI -Pune and KVK Narayangaon. The beneficiaries of MadhuShakti were identified through a rigorous process. In April & May the project team visited women groups in villages like Pimpari pendhar, Varulwadi, Narayangaon, Kalwadi, Otur, Navalewali, Pondewali, Varude, Javulake and Vithalwadi and invited them for a one day workshop at the KVK.
Nearly 300 women attended a huge sensitization workshop held in June. Here the participants were informed about benefits of beekeeping and were also taken to the set-up of a commercial beekeeper to show them how beekeeping is done. After the workshop a hundred of these women were enrolled for BeePositive – MadhuShakti. They will now be trained through classroom & practical sessions from August 19th-30th at the KVK.
Speaking about MadhuShakti Dr Lakshmi Rao, Assistant Director at CBRTI, said, “Rather than focusing on honey, CBRTI will train them to harvest high-value beehive products like Bee Pollen & Royal Jelly which can fetch them much better returns. CBRTI has a special Royal Jelly processing unit which will be used by the women. We will try to make a special brand for them which can be marketed through CBRTI Honey Parlor.”
Dr Prashant Shete, Head of KVK Narayangaon said, “The objective of the training is to make the women certified beekeepers who can earn an extra income every month by harvesting beehive products. KVK is committed to supporting and handholding the women for one year till they become expert beekeepers.” After the training BeePositive will provide each woman with beekeeping equipment and 5 commercial beehives, each, absolutely free of cost. These 500 bee boxes will be set up into apiaries in the areas around Manchar & Narayangaon. This place has abundant natural flora that provides pollen/ nectar for nearly 8-9 months in a year and hence is conducive to beekeeping. The women, some of who are already part of Self Help Groups and FPOs will to work together to harvest the produce form the 500 beehives.
BeePositive has been implementing such projects for women empowerment in other states of the country too. The vision of BeePositive is to create a countrywide network of beekeeping cooperatives on the lines of AMUL where women will work together to scientifically harvest quality beehive products to sell around the world. Through collaborations with experts in the sector, BeePositive handholds these women for a year till they become confident entrepreneurs who are capable of running their business. BeePositive also connects them with organizations that can help them market and get a fair price for their produce.
BeePositive founder Kanupriya said, “Our dream is that each woman who is trained by BeePositive will help train another five, thus creating sustainable livelihoods for the poorest of the poor, which would be greatly beneficial to nation building as well.”