Bees are vital to our planet’s health and food security. This was the key message at the World Bee Day 2025 celebration in Jalukie Town, Nagaland, held on May 20th. The event, a collaboration between the Nagaland Community Conserved Areas Forum (NCCAF) and the Nagaland Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM), brought together local leaders and communities from Peren District to champion these incredible pollinators.
Er Khuvozoyi Vese, Deputy Team Leader of NBHM, emphasized that bees are the “architects of life on Earth.” He highlighted that bees pollinate a staggering 90% of the world’s flowering plants and 75% of global food crops. Without them, our ecosystems would collapse, and food security would be severely threatened. Vese also noted Nagaland’s rich ecological landscape, boasting 13,500 square kilometers of bee-forage area and native pollinators like Apis cerana and Tetragonula. He urged immediate action to combat threats like habitat degradation, pesticide use, and climate change, stating, “Bees are bio-indicators; their decline reflects our environmental crisis.”
The event also focused on the immense potential of beekeeping, or apiculture, for sustainable rural livelihoods in Nagaland. Bokali M. Chikhe, Team Member of NBHM, presented compelling figures: while current annual honey production in Nagaland stands at 440 metric tons (valued at Rs 39.6 crore), the state has the potential to produce up to 30,000 metric tons of honey and 50 metric tons of beeswax. This could inject a staggering Rs 750 crore into the rural economy! Chikhe stressed that beekeeping is inclusive, requiring minimal land or investment, making it accessible to women, youth, and landless farmers.
Nurturing Nagaland’s Beekeeping Ecosystem
Setsachem Sangtam, Treasurer of NCCAF, facilitated a session dedicated to scaling up apiculture in Nagaland. Chikhe further elaborated on how beekeeping supports ecosystem health by pollinating wild flora and bolstering agroforestry systems. She showcased initiatives like “Eco-Api Villages,” which integrate beekeeping with organic farming, fisheries, and terrace agriculture to create climate-resilient landscapes.
Despite the promising outlook, challenges persist, including market volatility, high organic certification costs, and unsustainable wild honey harvesting. To address these, NBHM is actively training over 22,000 beekeepers in scientific methods, promoting eco-friendly hive materials through afforestation drives, and strengthening local value chains via Village Beekeeping Committees (VBKCs) and women’s self-help groups.
Hiazu Meru, Deputy Commissioner, Peren, reinforced the critical link between pollinator protection and Nagaland’s vision for organic agriculture. He stated, “Bees are the backbone of chemical-free farming. Their protection ensures both ecological balance and sustainable incomes.”
This World Bee Day celebration underscored the critical role of bees in biodiversity, conservation, food security, and sustainable rural livelihoods in Nagaland. The collaborative efforts of NCCAF and NBHM are paving the way for a sweeter, more sustainable future for the region.
The World Bee Day 2025 celebration in Jalukie Town served as a powerful reminder of the indispensable role bees play in the health of our planet and the prosperity of communities, particularly in Nagaland. The collaborative vision of the Nagaland Community Conserved Areas Forum (NCCAF) and the Nagaland Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM), alongside dedicated local leaders and communities, is clearly setting a precedent for sustainable development rooted in ecological balance. By championing scientific beekeeping methods, promoting eco-friendly practices, and empowering local communities, Nagaland is not only safeguarding its unique biodiversity but also unlocking significant economic potential. The future of the state’s agriculture and rural livelihoods is truly buzzing with possibility, showcasing how a small pollinator can drive monumental change.