Beekeeping plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance of biodiversity, with bees and other pollinators essential for the growth and survival of many flowers, plants, and trees. These pollinators are vital for ecosystems worldwide. Additionally, bees are harvested for honey, and there is a growing demand for ethically produced organic honey.
Sainhun Ventures, located in Shillong, Meghalaya, and run by Ms. Ibadaphunshisha Blah, is one such bee sanctuary that produces pure honey from its apiary. A marketing graduate, Ms. Blah’s entrepreneurial journey began after the passing of her father in 2012. Before starting her own venture, she managed the family business but always had an inclination toward launching something innovative and unique. She participated in various entrepreneurial training workshops to find her calling, eventually attending a 12-week intensive beekeeping workshop organized by the Meghalaya Institute of Entrepreneurship (MIE) and the Red River Technology Center (RRTC) in Umrong district.
As part of the workshop, the government promised to provide each participant with a few beehives to help them start their ventures. However, Ms. Blah, eager to begin, purchased her own hives, marking the birth of Sainhun Ventures. The business now produces two types of honey: mandarin honey, derived from the Khasi mandarin oranges that have received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, and wild forest honey. Explaining the latter, she says, “Wild forest honey is sourced directly from the forest. Some of the farmers I work with either place their hives in the jungle, or they go into the deep forest and collect the hive straight from tree trunks and branches.”
Despite her successes, Ms. Blah’s beekeeping journey has been fraught with challenges. Beekeeping is a delicate practice requiring caution, particularly during honey harvesting. “The honey flow season is from December to March, and we only harvest during this period. Overharvesting must be avoided at all costs. We can’t take everything; we need to leave some food for the bees,” she notes. This restriction on harvest seasons limits supply and sometimes makes it difficult to meet growing demand.
To address this, Ms. Blah encourages farmers to adopt scientific honey harvesting techniques. Wooden frames are installed for bees to build their hives around. During extraction, the frames are carefully removed and placed inside a honey extractor, allowing bees to rebuild faster and increasing honey production.
Handling bees also requires skill, and finding capable hands can be a challenge. “Lack of funding and logistics are two of the biggest challenges,” says Ms. Blah. “Courier services have stopped handling honey, so catering to small orders is difficult. Only bulk orders can be sent by road.” The COVID-19 lockdown further delayed deliveries and affected sales. However, with the world reopening, Ms. Blah is seeing an increase in bulk orders.
Social media platforms, particularly Facebook and Instagram, have been pivotal in growing her business. “A simple Facebook page has had a positive impact on my business,” she says.
A self-made entrepreneur and mother of two sons, Ms. Blah has plans to transform her farm into a resort. In the coming years, she hopes to expand her business and establish herself as a successful resort owner.
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