Kupwara : District Development Commissioner (DDC) Kupwara, Anshul Garg Saturday inaugurated Honey Processing and Bottling Unit at Gulgam Kupwara.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC), Nazir Ahmad Lone; Chief Agriculture Officer (CAO), Muzaffar Ahmad Hurrah, concerned officers and beekeepers were present on the occasion.
Chief Agriculture Officer, Muzaffer Ahmad Hurrah apprised the DDC about the functioning and potential of income generation of the Honey Processing and Bottling unit which has come up at a cost of Rs.17 Lakh.
He said the honey produced in the district is pure organic and informed that among most of the beekeepers in the district 90 belong to Gulgam area.
Regarding the Processing unit, CAO said the processing capacity of the unit is 2 quintal per day and the Agriculture department is supplying crude honey to the beekeepers at a nominal cost of Rs.100 per kg, thus enabling the beekeepers to earn more margin of profit.
e said in last 2 years 2000 bee colonies have been provided to beneficiaries at 40% subsidy by the department to generate employment and boost economic sector in the district.
The CAO also informed that Bottling and labeling plant will be soon established at Gulgam Kupwara for which DPR has already been approved by the department, and the produce will be branded as Kupwara Honey for national and international market.
Later the DDC interacted with bee keepers of Gulgam area wherein they raised their issues and demands related to financial assistance, migration of honey units and road connectivity towards honey processing unit.
The DDC directed the CAO that the bee keepers of the district should get registered with Farmers Producers Organizations (FPO) and provide them identity cards so that they can easily migrate from one place to another and sell their brands outside the state.
The demand for road connectivity from Gulgam to Cherwari Honey Processing plant was also highlighted by the bee keepers for which DDC assured them that the demand will be put in to the notice of higher authorities for early redressal.
