A Grand Celebration of Sustainability and Innovation
The World Honeybee Day 2026 Celebrations were successfully organized at Sri Manakula Vinayagar Engineering College (SMVEC), on 20th May 2026. The event was jointly organized by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), Ministry of MSME, Government of India, along with Pondicherry University Start-up Club, ACIC-Pondicherry University Step-up Hub, Institution’s Innovation Council of Pondicherry University, School of Agricultural Sciences – SMVEC, Pondicherry Natural Organic and Local Farmers Cooperative Society, and the Association for Promoting Sustainability in Campuses and Communities.
Thamizhthai Vazhthu & SMVEC Anthem
The celebration commenced with the rendition of Thamizhthai Vazhthu followed by the SMVEC Anthem, creating a patriotic and respectful atmosphere for the grand occasion. The gathering stood united in honour of Tamil culture, tradition, and the values upheld by the institution. The anthem reflected the vision, discipline, and commitment of SMVEC towards academic excellence, sustainability, and social responsibility. The solemn beginning added grace and dignity to the World Honeybee Day 2026 celebrations.
Lighting of the Lamp
The dignitaries ceremonially lit the traditional lamp, symbolizing the spread of knowledge, wisdom, positivity, and enlightenment. The ceremony marked the auspicious beginning of the World Honeybee Day 2026 celebrations and reflected the spirit of unity, harmony, and collective progress. The graceful moment created a vibrant atmosphere and set a meaningful tone for the day’s celebrations focused on sustainability, biodiversity conservation, and rural development.
Garlanding of Mahatma Gandhiji’s Portrait
The dignitaries paid tribute by garlanding the portrait of Mahatma Gandhiji, Honoring his values of sustainability, self-reliance, rural development, and social responsibility.
Welcome Address
Prof. B. Charumathi, Program Convenor and Director of ACIC-PUSH, delivered the Welcome Address and warmly welcomed the Chief Guest, dignitaries, KVIC officials, faculty members, start-up founders, farmers, students, and participants to the World Honeybee Day 2026 celebrations. In her speech, she emphasized the importance of honeybees in biodiversity conservation, pollination, food security, climate resilience, and sustainable agriculture. She highlighted that the event aimed to create awareness on sustainability, rural entrepreneurship, organic farming, and innovation through expert sessions, exhibitions, and competitions. She also expressed gratitude to KVIC, Pondicherry University, SMVEC management, organizing institutions, and all participants for their support and concluded by wishing the celebrations a grand success.
Honouring Guests
The dignitaries, chief guest, management members, speakers, KVIC officials, and distinguished guests were honoured during the celebration in recognition of their valuable presence, guidance, and contribution towards promoting honeybee conservation, sustainability, rural entrepreneurship, and environmental awareness.
Felicitation Address
Dr. V.S.K. Venkatachalapathy, Director-cum-Principal of SMVEC, delivered the Felicitation Address and highlighted the importance of honeybees in biodiversity, agriculture, and environmental sustainability. He emphasized the need to protect honeybees from threats such as chemical pesticides and climate change through sustainable practices and conservation efforts. He also appreciated the efforts of KVIC and the organizing institutions in creating awareness about honeybee conservation and rural development. He encouraged students and farmers to actively participate in sustainable agricultural practices and wished the World Honeybee Day 2026 celebrations a grand success.
Special Address
Shri D. Rajarajan, Treasurer of SMVE Trust, delivered the Special Address and highlighted the importance of honeybees as silent contributors to the ecosystem and agricultural sustainability. He explained how pollination by honeybees plays a vital role in food production, environmental balance, and maintaining biodiversity. He also appreciated farmers for their contribution towards protecting nature and supporting sustainable agriculture. Emphasizing collective responsibility, he encouraged everyone to work together towards environmental conservation and sustainable living. He concluded by wishing the World Honeybee Day 2026 celebrations a grand success and thanked the organizers for conducting the meaningful event.
Presidential Address
Shri M. Dhanasekaran, Chancellor of Takshashila University and Chairman & Managing Director of SMVE Trust, delivered the Presidential Address and highlighted the importance of honeybees in agriculture, sustainability, and environmental conservation. He emphasized that honeybees symbolize teamwork, discipline, leadership, and collective growth while playing a vital role in pollination and food production. He also encouraged students and farmers to explore honey production and agriculture as sustainable entrepreneurial opportunities and appreciated the organizers for conducting the meaningful celebration.
Book Release
A special book release ceremony was conducted during the World Honeybee Day 2026 celebrations, highlighting the importance of honeybee conservation, sustainability, and rural development. The release symbolized the commitment towards creating awareness and promoting knowledge on biodiversity, organic farming, and environmental responsibility.
Inauguration of Exhibition Stalls
The celebrations commenced with the inauguration of exhibition stalls featuring organic and honeybee-based products. Various stalls showcased natural honey products, organic farming initiatives, eco-friendly practices, and sustainable agricultural innovations. The exhibition attracted students, faculty members, researchers, farmers, and entrepreneurs interested in apiculture and organic farming.
Awareness Sessions on KVIC Schemes and Honey Mission
Officials from KVIC delivered informative sessions about government initiatives and schemes supporting honey production and rural entrepreneurship. Shri B. N. Suresh, State Director (I/c), KVIC Chennai, explained various KVIC schemes, while Shri C. Baskar, Assistant Director, KVIC Chennai, elaborated on the National Honey Mission and its impact on farmers and entrepreneurs.
Expert Talk on Biodiversity and Climate Resilience
Dr. M. Nandhivarman, Coordinator, Office of Green Campus, Pondicherry University, addressed the gathering on the role of honeybees in biodiversity conservation and climate resilience. The session highlighted how honeybees contribute significantly to pollination, ecological sustainability, and food security.
Workshop on Honey to Market
A special workshop titled “Honey to Market: Product-Market Fit and MVP Design” was conducted by Shri M. Nadesan, Secretary of PNOFLFCS. The workshop focused on transforming honey products into successful business ventures and encouraged participants to explore start-up opportunities in apiculture and organic products.
Sessions on Organic Farming and Global Honey Market
Dr. R. Ragavan, AD of Agriculture (Retd.), Government of Puducherry, delivered an insightful session on the role of honeybees in organic farming and sustainable agriculture. Another session by Dr. N. Sinouvassane, Assistant Professor, Department of Management Studies, Pondicherry University, discussed global honey markets and emerging import-export opportunities in the apiculture sector.
Honouring Ceremony
Leading bee-keepers and contributors to the field of apiculture and sustainable farming were honoured for their dedication and valuable contributions. Prizes were also distributed to the winners of the Best Stall, Drawing, and Essay Competitions conducted as part of the celebrations.
Vote of Thanks
The event concluded with the Vote of Thanks delivered by Dr. G. Mohamed Yassin, Dean – School of Agricultural Sciences – SMVEC. The celebrations ended with the National Anthem followed by the distribution of Honey Mission pamphlets and honey samples to participants. Attendees were also taken on a visit to the SMVEC Apiary and exhibition stalls, providing them with practical exposure to honeybee farming and organic products.
National Anthem
The World Honeybee Day 2026 celebrations concluded with the National Anthem, filling the atmosphere with patriotism and pride. The event ended on a memorable note with participants carrying valuable insights on sustainability, honeybee conservation, organic farming, and rural entrepreneurship.
