Over 500 farmers are engaged in organic honey cultivationunder its Vedamrit project through scientific apiculture, targeting scalable income and production growth
Jharsuguda, Odisha, 20thMay 2026: Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest producer of aluminium, observedWorld Bee Day through a series of awareness and capacity-building initiatives held under the aegis of its flagship CSR programme, Vedamrit, reaffirming its commitment to sustainable livelihoods, biodiversity conservation and rural entrepreneurship in Odisha. Organized across Kolabira and Laikera blocks of Jharsuguda district, the programme brought togetherover 65 farmers,community members, technical experts and government stakeholders to promote scientific beekeeping and sustainable honey production practices.
Observed globally on 20th May, World Bee Day recognizes the indispensable role of bees and other pollinators in maintaining biodiversity, ensuring food security, and supporting agricultural ecosystems. The United Nations (UN)theme for World Bee Day 2026,‘Bee Together for People and the Planet – A partnership that sustains us all’, calls for collective action to protect pollinators and strengthen sustainable food systems.
Vedanta Aluminium’sVedamrit initiative aligns closely with this vision by integrating ecological awareness with community-led livelihood generation.As part of its observance of the occasion, participants attended technical sessions conducted by scientists from the Government of India’sKrishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) on bee colony management, disease prevention, pest control and feeding techniques, to prepare them for the onset of therainy season. Demonstrations on hygienic honey extraction and processing methods were also conducted, alongside interactive sessions and recognition of successful beekeepers for their contributions towards sustainable apiculture.
Speaking on the occasion, C Chandru, CEO -Vedanta Aluminium, Jharsuguda, said, “At Vedanta, we believe sustainability must create meaningful value for both communities and the environment. Through Vedamrit, we are enabling rural communities to build sustainable livelihoods through scientific apiculture while also raising awareness about the critical role of bees in preserving biodiversity and supporting agriculture.”
Anuj Ray, Scientist at Kisan Vugyan Kendra, Jharsuguda said, “Scientific apiculture has immense potential to transform rural livelihoods while strengthening ecological balance. Platforms like Vedamritare playing a crucial role in equipping farmers with practical knowledge on scientific beekeeping, seasonal management and quality honey production. It is encouraging to see growing awareness and adoption among farmers, which will not only enhance their incomes but also contribute significantly to pollination, agricultural productivity and biodiversity conservation.”
Implemented under the Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) model through VedamritJibika Farmer Producer Company Limited, the initiative provides structured training, infrastructure support, processing facilities and market linkages to beekeeping farmers. Currently benefiting more than 500 farmers across Odisha, Vedamrit is already the largest such FPO in Eastern India and aims to onboard 1,500 farmers by FY28, with a target of producing 20,000 litres of honey annually and generating an estimated revenue potential of ₹1 crore. The impact of the projectwas recently recognized as the ‘Best CSR Project’ at the 94thEdition Corporate Social Responsibility Summit and Awards 2025.
Vedanta’scommunity development initiatives continue to drive large-scale social impact across the region, positively touching over 7 lakh lives across 61 villages in FY’26 through focused interventions in healthcare, education, women empowerment, sustainable livelihoods, water and sanitation, youth skilling, sports and community infrastructure.
