Canacona: Women from remote villages of Gaondongrim, Cotigao, Poinguinim, Shristhal, Agonda and Loliem have been brought together in a women-led farmer producer organisation (FPO) as part of a beekeeping initiative to earn additional income. About 300 women are involved, with proposed annual honey production of 40 kg per woman.The objective is to build a complete livelihood system, from training and scientific beekeeping to honey collection, processing, branding and marketing, said Kushavati Beekeeping FPO chairperson, Savita Tawadkar.It focuses on women with no regular income who are already engaged in agriculture, forest-based activities or household livelihoods. It aims to provide another income source without completely changing their existing livelihoods.The proposed target is around 300 women, with five bee boxes or colonies per woman.Beekeeping requires relatively limited land and can be combined with existing farming and household activities.Bee boxes can generally be maintained around homes, farms and suitable agricultural areas, making their management a part of women’s daily activities, said Tawadkar.She said most of the women brought under the FPO were engaged in agriculture, horticulture, household work, wage labour and livelihood based on forest-based products. With proper management, a woman can generate an annual income of about Rs 8,000 per bee box, she said. However, income will depend on the number of boxes, colony strength, flowering seasons, management practices and honey yield.The FPO will provide training in scientific beekeeping and colony management, and maintenance of bee boxes, support in establishing colonies and technical assistance in honey harvesting and hygienic handling. It will also support collective honey collection, processing, packaging, quality improvement, branding, and connecting with potential markets and buyers.
