CSIR–NBRI and Ramalaya Foundation launch Bihar’s first integrated scientific beekeeping and biodiversity restoration initiative in Madhepura, aiming to boost farmer incomes and strengthen the region’s ecological balance.
Madhepura, Bihar | 18 November 2025
In a major stride toward sustainable rural development, Bihar has launched its first Scientific Honey Production and Biodiversity Restoration Project in Ramganj village, Madhepura. The initiative, designed to uplift farmer livelihoods and revive local ecosystems, is being implemented under the CSIR Floriculture Mission – Phase II. The project is led by Mission Director Dr. Ajit Kumar Shasany and executed by the CSIR–National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Lucknow, in collaboration with the Ramalaya Foundation, founded by Shri Prashant Kumar.
The launch event witnessed active participation from officials across the District Administration, Block Development Department, Forest Department, and experts from the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK). Additional technical insights were provided by Mr. Manoj Kumar, Block Project Manager, Jeevika, Kumarkhand, and Mr. Nimit Singh, Founder of Madhumakhi Wala Industry, Lucknow. Their involvement highlighted the strong multi-departmental cooperation driving this initiative toward long-term success.
District Magistrate Shri Taranjot Singh, IAS, praised the project as a path-breaking model for ecological and social transformation in Bihar. He pledged full administrative support and expressed his intention to visit the field site soon, engaging directly with participating scientists and farmers.
Shri Prashant Kumar, Founder of Ramalaya Foundation, emphasized the project’s commitment to building a self-sustaining system that benefits both the environment and the farming community. “By combining scientific beekeeping with ecological restoration, we aim to uplift farmers, protect biodiversity, and create long-term livelihood opportunities. We deeply appreciate CSIR–NBRI’s expertise and partnership in turning this vision into reality,” he said.
The scientific supervision of the project will be handled by CSIR–NBRI experts Dr. Sushil Kumar and Dr. Bikarma Singh, both Principal Scientists, along with Project Associate Prabhat Maurya.
According to Dr. Sushil Kumar, Ramganj offers tremendous potential for scientific honey production, and the introduction of modern techniques will simultaneously enhance farmer income and conserve local flora and fauna.
Dr. Bikarma Singh added that scientific beekeeping strengthens the entire ecosystem and serves as a foundation for long-term environmental resilience.
Under the project, a biodiversity zone spanning a 2 km radius will be developed. The plan includes deploying 200 scientifically managed bee boxes, enabling farmers to increase their income by 30–50%. Over the next three years, the initiative aims to enroll over 200 new farmers, expand operations to multiple blocks across Madhepura, and scale plantation efforts across 20–30 hectares, contributing to a robust and sustainable ecological framework in the region.
