PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS OF BEE KEEPING AT KHATARSHNONG IN MEGHALAYA.

The main focus of this qualitative study is to examine the problems and prospects of beekeeping at Khatarshnong in Meghalaya, because this enterprise is working more in these areas than others parts of Meghalaya.Beekeeping plays an important role in the development of the people of Khartarshnong. It is an interesting hobby, an ideal, eco- friendly, agro based subsidiary enterprise, providing supplementary and a major source of income to the farmers. It provide sustainable livelihood to the rural people, including the landless and women. The susceptibility of honey bees to different diseases, pesticide hazards and marketing of bee products were found to be major limiting factors in the prospects of beekeeping. However, even though beekeeping practices at Khatarshnong is more traditional and affected by several constraints, high motivation of the beekeepers, their traditional knowledge, and availability of indigenous tree, flowers species as bee forage and participation of all family members in beekeeping activities were among the aspects that encourage Beekeeping in the area. Since, the beekeepers wants to upgrade their business; technical, institutional and long term credit support from the government, could result in a sustainable way of honey production.