KVIB Team inspects development works at Banihal Beekeeping Cluster

BANIHAL : A team of J&K Khadi & Village Industries Board (KVIB), led by Secretary (CEO) Atul Sharma today inspected the ongoing work and overall progress here at the Banihal Beekeeping Cluster.

The cluster is coming up at a project cost of Rs 1.38 crore with a Common Facility Centre with Honey Processing Plant, Comb Foundation mill and other relevant machines and equipments.

Besides associated beekeepers and stakeholders of the cluster area, Tilak Raj Divisional officer Jammu and Dr Sandeep Kotwal, Executive officer (Schemes) J&K KVIB, also accompanied Secretary/CEO.

Taking note of slow progress in execution of civil works, the CEO advised the representative of Implementing Agency to gear up the pace to complete the clusters in a time-bound manner.

Later, an awareness cum sensitization programme of beekeepers was conducted under the chairmanship of the Secretary.

Besides, senior officers of the Board; Chief Agriculture officer Ramban, Chief Horticulture Officer Ramban, LDM Ramban and other sectoral officers of District Administration also attended the awareness camp.

Referring to the main objective of the said cluster, Secretary/CEO said that with the establishment of this cluster, the earnings of beekeepers of Ramban district shall increase, besides raising the profit margin and productivity and production of honey in the district.

The facilities of honey extraction, processing, packing, labelling and marketing shall be provided to beekeepers of the area under one roof. He underscored the need for coordinated and synchronised efforts from stakeholders to ensure target oriented and objective implementation of the said cluster.

Earlier, Secretary/CEO visited various micro industry units established under PMEGP and JKREGP in Banihal area of Ramban. He was satisfied with the overall status of the units.