Jashpur Nagar -  Beekeeping is not only important for the environment but it is also a profitable and low-cost business, it has become an excellent and profitable source of self-employment. In this connection, under the National Mission on Edible Oil Scheme under the Prime Minister Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana, the women of Champa village of Bagicha development block were encouraged to take up beekeeping by forming self-help groups to make them self-reliant and connect them with employment.        

Under the guidance of Mr. Lalsai Kerketta, Senior Agriculture Development Officer of Baghicha Development Block, training was provided and five boxes for beekeeping were provided free of charge. Currently, the boxes are being installed near the mustard crop and good production is expected.

Benefits of beekeeping:-

This business can be started at a low cost, and it was received free of charge from the government. Currently, during the Rabi season, mustard crops are being grown in the fields, making beekeeping easier and yielding good production. Bees promote biodiversity and maintain a healthy environment, yielding good quality honey.          

In just one month, the self-help group has extracted 10 kg of honey from 5 boxes and sold it in the local market at the rate of Rs. 500 per kg and there is a possibility of good production in future also. All the farmers should do beekeeping along with cultivation of oilseed crops in Kharif and Rabi, so that they can earn good income by using their resources in less time and at less cost and can also fulfill the requirement of pure food material for themselves. All the members of Khushi Self-Help Group have expressed their gratitude to the Agriculture Department and Chhattisgarh Government for guiding and encouraging them for beekeeping.