Modern science is finding that many of the historical claims that honey can be used in medicine may indeed be true. In the Bible [ Old Testament ], King Solomon said,”My son , eat thou honey, for it is good”, and there are a number of reasons why it may be good.
There is some research to suggest that honey may be useful in minimising seasonal allergies. The Guardian reported that honey even ‘beats cough medicine’ at alleviating and reducing the frequancy of cough.
Over four thousand years ago, honey was used as a traditional ayurvedic medicine, where it was thought to be effective at treating material imbalances in the body.
Our ProgrammesInauguration of Honey Processing Plant at Common Facility Centre (CFC) of North 24 Parganas Beekeeping Cluster was established at Kamarhati (NH-34), P.O. – Mirhati, Barasat, North 24 Praganas, Kolkata 125, on 15.09.2010.
Establishment of CFC equipped with Honey Processing, Filling and packaging, Storage in food grade barrels etc.
Procurement of raw honey from cluster beekeepers.
Regular processing, Packaging and storage of Honey supplied by the intended cluster beekeepers.
Testing of raw and processed honey at CFC based Laboratory.
Establishment of internet KIOSK for information sharing among the artisans.
Disseminate market information.
Maintenance of stock inventory and supply of all beekeeping related equipments.
Carriage facilities for collection and dispatch of honey..
To introduce modern trend of bottles, improved packaging and attractive labeling.
Higher end value through value addition.
Testing of developed products in Melas, Exhibitions.
Honey in Pouch pack.
Honey lime drinks/ Honey zinger drinks.
Market Promotion was an important intervention under the scheme that enabled the IA and the associated beekeepers to strengthen their marketing activities. The cluster adopted multipronged strategy such as marketing through (A) Regular sales outlets, (B) Participation in Melas and exhibitions, (C) Promotion of export markets (D) orders through direct contact with the buyers.
Opening of sales outlet and honey parlor for cluster products.
Creation of cluster website for facilitating e-marketing.
Development of Product Catalogue.
Participation in Exhibitions and Trade fairs of State and National standard
Publicity through different media including booklets, leaflets etc.
Participation in State and National level marketing seminars.
ISO Certification.
Bar coding
Order generation and supply.
Capacity Building of the Beekeepers is an important component of the scheme that aims at developing the capacity of the beekeepers so that they are able to systematically organize production and undertake marketing. Since the beekeepers are associated with the association, the thrust was given on sensitization through capacity building and mind set extensively. The following activities were carried out under the Capacity Building head.
Awareness Programme on the SFURTI scheme for the artisans and other stakeholders.
Preparations of Artisan photo pass book, identity card and enrolment register.
Skill up-gradation training programme for Master Trainers and the artisans.
Participation of beekeepers in Seminars and workshop for gaining higher level of knowledge and skills.
Artisan’s exposure visit for experience gaining and information sharing.
Printing and dissemination of information booklets.
Opening of Artisan pass book in the banks.
Empowering through SHG & JLG.
Formation of CDCG and regular meetings.
Improvements in products Quality.
Formation of other such committees as and when required for effective implementation of cluster activities.
Providing Beekeepers Identity cards.
Artisan Welfare Measures.
Health check up camps for cluster level beekeepers
Cluster Office & Information Centre (KIOSK).
Honey Processing Plant with moisture reducing unit, (300 kg capacity) coupled with, Semi automatic twin head volumetric honey filling machine, ROPP capping machine & label gumming and pasting machine, Pouch filling Machine with embossing coding, foil sealer, bar coding system etc. are housed at the CFC and regularly operational.
(i) Supply of bee kits (Honey Extractor, SS smoker, Uncapping knife, queen cage, queen cell protector, grafting needle set, frame gripper, bee brush, etc.) bee medicines (Association members), comb foundation sheets, bee colonies, bee boxes, Pollen Traps, collection and preservation of pollens, technical literatures, floral calendar, display CD relating to technical aspects for enrichment and sales on demand through sales outlet. Also ready for need based training on bee diseases, Pest control, Queen rearing, Royal Jelly collection etc., organizing workshop/seminar etc. in a systematic way. (ii) Go down/ storage facility available for the beekeepers.
Honey Testing facility through CFC based Laboratory.
Tin containers replaced with Food Grade Barrels.
Maintenance of Model Bee Colonies (apis mellifira).
Sales outlets for Honey & beekeeping related equipments.
First Aid Facilities.
Drinking Water Facilities.
Meeting place for the artisans.
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