Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh): With the country witnessing a migrant crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic, a youngster from Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi district has set an example by turning to beekeeping, which he feels could be a lucrative option for marginal farmers who often are left with no other option but to move to cities.
Mohit Anand Pathak, an MBA graduate who had a plush job with a multinational company in New Delhi, decided to return to his village Narayanpur, around 25 kilometres from Varanasi, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for 'Atmanirbhar Bharat', the youngster decided to try beekeeping with modern techniques in his own village.
"Beekeeping is a good income source and further can also ensure good yield for farmers. Hence, I undertook training at the KVIC (Khadi and Village Industries Commission). I learnt how to look after bees, and other important techniques like optimum spacing between hives," Mohit said.
Now, Mohit has also started involving other youngsters and women from the village in his beekeeping project.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is also the local Lok Sabha MP, had praised the efforts of youngsters, who turned towards alternate sources of income like beekeeping.
"I would like to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for acknowledging our efforts. Our focus is on farmers who are forced to migrate to cities, either because they do not have enough land, or resources. We want to train more farmers in beekeeping, as it does not require much land or resources," Mohit's brother Rohit Anand Pathak said.
Chanda, a woman from the village, said that she too has started working in the beekeeping farms after obtaining training, and is now able to earn the much-needed additional income for her family.
Read: Widowed with two children, this Karnataka woman masters organic farming for self-reliance
