THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

JHARSUGUDA, MAY 20, 2026

Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium producer, marked World Bee Day through a series of awareness and capacity-building initiatives under its flagship CSR programme, Vedamrit, reaffirming its commitment to sustainable livelihoods, biodiversity conservation and rural entrepreneurship in Odisha. Organised across Kolabira and Laikera blocks of Jharsuguda district, the programme brought together over 65 farmers, community members, technical experts and government stakeholders to promote scientific beekeeping and sustainable honey production practices.

Observed globally on May 20, World Bee Day highlights the vital role of bees and other pollinators in preserving 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’s Vedamrit initiative closely aligns with this vision by combining ecological awareness with community-driven livelihood generation. As part of the observance, participants attended technical sessions conducted by scientists from the Government of India’s Krishi Vigyan Kendra on bee colony management, disease prevention, pest control and feeding techniques to help farmers prepare for the rainy season. Demonstrations on hygienic honey extraction and processing methods were also conducted, alongside interactive sessions and recognition of successful beekeepers for their contribution to sustainable apiculture.

Speaking on the occasion, C. Chandru, CEO of 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 Krishi Vigyan Kendra, said, “Scientific apiculture has immense potential to transform rural livelihoods while strengthening ecological balance. Platforms like Vedamrit are 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 incomes but also contribute significantly to pollination, agricultural productivity and biodiversity conservation.”

Implemented under the Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) model through Vedamrit Jibika 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 project was recently recognised as the ‘Best CSR Project’ at the 94th Corporate Social Responsibility Summit and Awards 2025.

Vedanta’s community development initiatives continue to create large-scale social impact across the region, positively touching over seven lakh lives across 61 villages in FY26 through focused interventions in healthcare, education, women empowerment, sustainable livelihoods, water and sanitation, youth skilling, sports and community infrastructure.