Dehradun: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday observed the process of honey extraction at the Chief Minister’s residence. It was informed that 520 kilograms of honey have been produced within just 45 days at the residence, which is being seen as an important initiative toward self-employment and better utilization of natural resources.
The Chief Minister said that there is immense potential for honey production in the mountainous and forest areas of Uttarakhand. He directed officials to formulate an effective policy for setting up bee boxes in forest areas so that new employment opportunities can be created for local people.
He said that under the Chief Minister Self-Employment Scheme, beekeeping will be given priority and special subsidies will be arranged for farmers and entrepreneurs associated with it.
The Chief Minister added that beekeeping in mountainous areas will be rapidly promoted by linking it with the rural economy. Describing it as a strong medium of self-employment, he said it will not only increase local income but also strengthen environmental conservation.
During the visit, the Chief Minister instructed Horticulture In-charge Deepak Purohit to plant suitable flowering and pollen-rich plants in the CM residence premises to ensure year-round honey production. He also directed work to begin on developing “Three-B” gardens—Bird-friendly, Bee-friendly, and Butterfly-friendly.
He emphasized organizing plantation drives based on the “Three-B” concept on occasions like World Environment Day and Harela festival, stating that such initiatives will sustainably promote honey production along with environmental conservation and give a new direction to the state’s economy.
