Bee-Keeping and Honey Production: A Profit Oriented or Eco-Friendly Entrepreneurship

Abstract

The ecological balance became disturbed due to the severe interference of human beings. The resultant is very scaring and every year the rise of temperature, high speed cyclones are affecting the present and future generations and the resources. From 2019 onwards India is experiencing significant climate changes related to flooding, drought, extreme heat, cyclones, mudslides and severe monsoons in various regions and states. With a massive and growing population, growing consumption by middle class, India is facing severe catastrophe in 2020 in terms of low economy along with this pandemic situation (COVID-19). Indian government under Paris Climate agreement in the G20 has undertaken various commitments to reduce carbon emission and reconstruct the lost ecological balance to restore a sustainable future. With in various commitments the government has taken decisive steps in creating an enabling policy for business, investment and entrepreneurship sector. So eco-entrepreneurship trends can be noticed in India that are transforming profitable business models starting from agricultural diversities, irrigation, sericulture and restoration of forests & rehabilitation of endangered species. Restoration of natural ecosystem and establishing profitable enterprise can be observed in Sunderban areas of West Bengal. This paper focuses on the honey collectors and sellers especially women with their male partners’ who established eco-friendly enterprise under various SHGs. This study provides case studies related to an organization “Sunderban Foundation” that intervened in this enterprise to make it profitable and eco-friendly for the dwellers of the Sunderban areas especially in Balidweep of Gasaba Block.