–Honey is extracted from berries, mustard, eucalyptus, tahli, lychee, kikar, ajwain, coriander, barseem etc sold
–Deputy Commissioner praises the group, says people should take inspiration from them and step towards self-employment
Dayalpura Bhaika (Bathinda), February 12
Women farmers have set an example by setting a new benchmark in apiculture. Under the Ek Onkar Self Help Group, farmer women from Dayalpura Bhaika village and other villages of Bhagta Block sell various types of honey and its products under the brands Aajeevika Honey, Kaur Honey and Kudrat Honey. Honey produced from berries, mustard, eucalyptus, tahli, lychee, kikar, ajwain, coriander, barseem etc is sold at various places.
Group member Jasveer Kaur said that form producing various types of honey throughout the year the group takes the bees on migration to different districts of Haryana, Rajasthan and Punjab. Jasveer said that their group adopted beekeeping as a means of employment since 2020.
These women farmers, inspired by an awareness camp held at Mann Makhi Farm, Tungwali village, Bathinda district, formed a team of five members and started beekeeping with 50 boxes. With financial assistance from the horticulture department Punjab and Punjab Rural Mission to further advance this profession, they now have 2500 honey bee boxes.
The group provides employment to 200 members along with 5 or 6 workers throughout the year. The group has been given a project worth Rs 10 lakh on subsidy by Punjab Agro using which honey is processed and marketed.
For marketing honey, the group does its own processing and packing under the brands Aajeevika, Kudrat, and Kaur Honey and sells it. In addition, the group sells honey at exhibitions and fairs with the cooperation of various departments and at the group’s sales center on Bhagta-Barnala Road, Dayalpura Bhaika village.
Talking about the problems in honey marketing, Jasveer Kaur said that there is lack of awareness in people regarding yardstick for pure and impure honey. She said that the honey prepared from mustard crop, which naturally solidifies at low temperatures, is mistaken for adulterated honey. In addition, to earn good profits from the honey business, the group is in contact with the marketing wing of agriculture department for advice on new marketing techniques.
In this way, despite social and economic obstacles the women, who have adopted this profession to increase their income, has set benchmark by working together unitedly. In today’s time of rising expenses, women farmers in villages/cities need to take inspiration from this group and form such self-help groups or farmer producer organizations to adopt allied agricultural professions.
Box Number 1:
–Take inspiration from them and step towards self-employment, Deputy Commissioner
Deputy Commissioner Bathinda Mr. Rajesh Dhiman, while praising farmer women farmers, said that these women are a beacon of light for others and farmers should take inspiration from them and step towards self-employment. He said that the Punjab government has provided them all kinds of assistance, which includes technical training, machinery on subsidy and marketing assistance.
Box Number 2:
–Garlic honey, pollen, white honey are produced:
The women farmers process honey and make various products from it, which are in high demand in the market. They also make and sell garlic honey that fights heart diseases, garlic-honey extract, pollen grains of mustard and onion variety (which are rich in protein), dry fruit honey, honey barfi, coconut laddoo, etc.
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