Jharsuguda: The Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest producer of aluminium, observed 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, Vedamrit has facilitated over 500 farmers engaged in organic honey cultivation through scientific apiculture, targeting scalable income and production growth, states a release issued by Vedanta recently.
Organised across Kolabira and Laikera blocks of Jharsuguda district, the awareness initiatives 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 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 is ‘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. Vedamrit initiative aligns closely with this vision by integrating ecological awareness with community-led livelihood generation, added the release.
Speaking on the occasion, CEO of Vedanta Aluminium C Chandru 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.”
Scientist from Kisan Vigyan Kendra, Jharsuguda Anuj Ray 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 their incomes but also contribute significantly to pollination, agricultural productivity and biodiversity conservation.”
Implemented under the Farmer Producer Organization (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 2028, with a target of producing 20,000 litre of honey annually and generating an estimated revenue potential of Rs 1 crore. The impact of the project was recently recognized as the ‘Best CSR Project’ at the 94th edition of Corporate Social Responsibility Summit and Awards 2025.
Vedanta’s community development initiatives continue to drive large-scale social impact across the region, positively touching over 7 lakh lives across 61 villages in 2026 through focused interventions in healthcare, education, women empowerment, sustainable livelihoods, water and sanitation, youth skilling, sports and community infrastructure, it added.