By Silambarasan S.P., Biodiversity Conservation
Between 9th and 13th September 2025, a team from Kotagiri, comprising Shiny, Nithya, and Simbu, visited Jharkhand for a scoping visit. The purpose of our visit was to assess the feasibility and potential for implementing a beekeeping activity. This initiative is part of Women for Bees by UNESCO.
The objectives of the visit were:
- To understand current practices, challenges, and local knowledge related to beekeeping.
- To understand local ecological suitability, community interest, availability of flora, and existing beekeeping practices (if any).
- To assess the suitability of Keystone`s working villages of Ranchi and Jamshedpur for apiculture.
- To identify potential local partners and community groups.
The first field visit during this trip was to the Adivasi hamlet of Settagadah of Maranghada Village in Khunti Block of Khunti District, Jharkhand, where we visited Mr. Anand Tutti, a local beekeeper belonging to the Munda community.
Anand maintains 80 bee boxes of Apis cerana, of which 40 colonies are active. Apart from beekeeping, he is also engaged in agriculture and works as an auto mechanic.
The hamlet has around 30 families. Stingless bees are present in the area, but honey is not collected from them. Mr. Anand Tutti expressed a strong interest in expanding beekeeping activities in the hamlet and also supporting and promoting beekeeping in Keystone Foundation’s work areas, like the villages of Seraikela-Kharsawan.
While we were conversing with him, we realized that he has a strong interest in beekeeping. We also learned from him about the specific beekeeping training he needs, how it should be conducted, and the extent of training required for him.
Additionally, we observed his garden, where he pointed out many fruit trees and shrubs. He mentioned that the 40 bee colonies he has are being used to collect honey from the nearby garden as well as from agricultural fields.
Anand will be helping conduct training and promote beekeeping in Keystone Foundation’s Eastern India villages, starting with the villages of Chandil and Seraikela Blocks in Seraikela-Kharsawan District of Jharkhand. We also plan to facilitate in-depth future training for Anand and other interested beekeepers and CRPs in the upcoming months.
Photo Credit : Silambarasan
