The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Tribal women turn bee-keepers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 09, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Tribal women turn bee-keepers

D. Chandra Bhaskar Rao

Women of the primitive hill tribal group of Konda Reddys turn the Agency area into an epicentre of
income-generation

— Photo: G.N. Rao

Vocational skills: Tribal women being trained in bee-keeping at Vippuru village in Bhadrachalam division.

BHADRACHALAM: Investing in green ideas seems to be paying off in the agency areas of Khammam.

Women of the primitive hill tribal group of Konda Reddys are taking to a novel path by going for commercial bee-keeping.

After reaping a rich harvest of honey this year, they are out to make their habitations the epicentre of the income generating activity.

Giving scope for further expansion and fulfilment of their initiative, the ITDA has taught them the basics of bee-keeping. There is a reversal in the role of these people who believe in felling trees for ‘podu’ cultivation. The protection of the green spaces has assumed greater importance in the tribal pockets where in bee-keeping is taken up.

Some 23 self-help groups (SHGs) with 263 Konda Reddy women who took to bee-keeping in six mandals of the tribal area produced over 5.7 tonnes of honey this year. They were paid Rs 5.7 lakhs by the ITDA, which had spent Rs. 26 lakh on the project aimed at helping the women of the hill tribe to supplement their income generation.

The SHGs, being managed by the Godavari- abari Samakhya, succeeded in meeting the demand in the local market. Much of the honey from the groups is being purchased at Rs. 100 a kg. as against Rs. 60 by private traders and put for sale through the stalls in Government offices and other marketing agencies.

Ketchela Rangamma of Vippuru village said that each member of the SHG is making Rs. 600 to Rs. 800 a month.

The training extended in bee-keeping helped women in mastering the techniques of scientific extraction of honey.

The project needs further expansion involving women from other tribal communities as well, she says.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh