Itanagar, May 8: A state-of-the-art Honey Testing Laboratory was inaugurated at the Department of Food Technology, Rajiv Gandhi University, Doimukh on Friday, marking a major step toward strengthening the beekeeping and honey-processing sector in Arunachal Pradesh.
The initiative is part of a comprehensive project funded by the National Bee Board (NBB) and implemented by NECTAR (North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach)? in collaboration with Rajiv Gandhi University.
The inaugural programme commenced with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and plaque unveiling, followed by a guided tour of the laboratory and demonstrations of advanced honey testing procedures. A Bhumi Pujan ceremony for the upcoming Honey Processing Unit was also conducted, aimed at further strengthening the integrated honey processing and value-addition ecosystem in the region.
Attending the event, local MLA Nabam Vivek highlighted the importance of scientific beekeeping and value-added honey production in promoting rural economic growth. He emphasized the need to empower local farmers and youth through technology-driven livelihood initiatives and assured continued support for expanding market linkages and entrepreneurship opportunities in the sector.
Tezpur University Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Amarendra Kumar Das and RGU Vice Chancellor Prof SK Nayak underscored the role of academic institutions in promoting research-driven agricultural innovation. They emphasized the importance of quality testing and certification for improving market competitiveness and encouraged inter-institutional collaboration to develop sustainable apiculture models.
NECTAR Director General Dr Arun Kumar Sarma highlighted NECTAR’s commitment to technology-driven livelihood enhancement in the Northeast. He said the initiative would serve as a replicable model for rural development and income generation through scientific beekeeping and integrated infrastructure involving testing, processing, storage and marketing.
The project coordination and implementation activities at RGU are being carried out under the leadership of Dr Sandeep Janghu, Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, along with coordinators Dr NRNV Gowripathi Rao, Dr Saxena RPN, and Dr Ashok Kumar Yadav.
The dignitaries collectively observed that the Honey Testing Laboratory and the upcoming Honey Processing Unit would significantly strengthen the honey value chain in Arunachal Pradesh by improving product quality, enhancing farmers’ income, creating employment opportunities for rural youth and women, and promoting entrepreneurship.
The facility is expected to provide local beekeepers with access to scientific honey testing for purity and moisture content, better processing and storage infrastructure, training and technical support, and improved market access for certified honey products.
The initiative, supported under the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission, is expected to transform apiculture into a sustainable and commercially viable livelihood sector in the state.