New Delhi: Traditional skills and locally available resources are emerging as a foundation for rural entrepreneurship, with the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) supporting enterprises in areas such as beekeeping, herbal products and banana-fibre crafts.
Operating under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), KVIC is using training, financial assistance, improved tools and technology and market support to help artisans and rural entrepreneurs turn traditional skills into sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Honey Mission Expands Rural Beekeeping
A key initiative highlighted by KVIC is the Honey Mission, launched in 2017 to promote scientific beekeeping among farmers, tribal communities and unemployed youth.
Under the initiative, beneficiaries receive:
- Training in scientific beekeeping
- Bee boxes and live bee colonies
- Beekeeping-related toolkits
- Support to develop beekeeping as an income-generating activity
Between 2017-18 and 2025-26, around 2.46 lakh bee boxes and bee colonies were distributed across the country. The initiative contributed to around 5,500 metric tonnes of honey production in 2025-26, according to KVIC.
From Honey to Value-Added Products
KVIC is also encouraging entrepreneurs to move beyond basic production and develop value-added products.
In Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, T. Ajin has developed Marthandam Honey Products, producing AGMARK-certified honey and honey blended with dry fruits. He also trains farmers, including members of economically weaker and SC/ST communities, in modern beekeeping techniques.
The initiative demonstrates how beekeeping can create opportunities not only for individual entrepreneurs but also for wider community-based livelihoods.
Local Resources Become Business Opportunities
Other entrepreneurs supported through KVIC programmes are building enterprises around locally available resources.
B. Sundaraj, through his Pure Health Herbal Agarbathi Unit, produces agarbattis and other herbal products using vetiver. Support under the Gramodyog Vikas Yojana (GVY) during 2024-25 helped strengthen his manufacturing capabilities and product range.
Meanwhile, M. Murugesan has developed a banana-fibre enterprise under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP). Through Om Banana Craft Private Limited, he converts banana fibre into value-added decorative and utility products.
KVIC Programmes Focus on Enterprise Creation
KVIC’s support is being delivered through several schemes aimed at strengthening village industries and rural enterprises.
Key programmes include:
- Khadi Vikas Yojana (KVY)
- Gramodyog Vikas Yojana (GVY)
- Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP)
- Honey Mission
The interventions combine skill development with access to finance, technology, equipment and markets.
Beekeeping Creates Wider Rural Opportunities
KVIC has also highlighted the wider agricultural and ecological role of beekeeping. Apart from honey production, bees contribute to pollination, linking the activity with agriculture and biodiversity.
Beekeeping is practised across several States, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha and the northeastern States.
The broader approach is to use traditional knowledge and natural resources as entry points for value addition, entrepreneurship and local employment, enabling rural communities to develop businesses around resources available in their own regions.
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