KVIC turns traditional skills and local resources into rural enterprises
KVIC is helping rural entrepreneurs turn traditional skills and local resources into sustainable businesses through training, technology, finance and market support, with beekeeping among its key livelihood initiatives.
The transition from traditional skills to value-added products is positioning village industries as an increasingly important component of India’s rural entrepreneurship and livelihood ecosystem.
NEW DELHI: Traditional skills and locally available resources are emerging as the foundation for new rural enterprises across India, with the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) supporting entrepreneurs through training, financial assistance, modern tools, technology and market support.
Under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), KVIC is implementing initiatives including the Khadi Vikas Yojana (KVY), Gramodyog Vikas Yojana (GVY) and Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) to strengthen traditional skills with modern enterprise capabilities.
The initiatives are helping artisans and rural entrepreneurs convert local resources into value-added products and sustainable livelihood opportunities.
From beekeeping to a honey enterprise
In Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, T. Ajin has built a honey enterprise, Marthandam Honey Products, based on his knowledge of beekeeping.
The unit produces AGMARK-certified honey as well as honey blended with dry fruits, adding value to traditional beekeeping activities.
Ajin’s work extends beyond his own enterprise. He trains farmers, particularly people from economically weaker sections and SC/ST communities, in modern beekeeping practices.
He has also participated in state, regional and district-level programmes and shared his knowledge through All India Radio and Doordarshan.
His experience illustrates how a rural enterprise can create livelihood opportunities beyond the entrepreneur’s own business by transferring skills and knowledge to the wider community.
Vetiver becomes a village enterprise
B. Sundaraj has built a business around vetiver through his Pure Health Herbal Agarbathi Unit.
The enterprise manufactures agarbathi, herbal products, Vetiver Agarbathi and Vetiver Samburani.
With support under the Gramodyog Vikas Yojana during 2024-25, Sundaraj strengthened his manufacturing capabilities and expanded his product range.
The initiative demonstrates how locally available resources and traditional knowledge can be combined with institutional support to create a sustainable village enterprise.
Turning banana fibre into products
M. Murugesan has adopted another approach by converting agricultural waste into value-added products.
Through Om Banana Craft Private Limited, he produces decorative and useful articles from banana fibre under a Banana Fibre Fancy Articles Making Unit supported through PMEGP.
His work has earned Central and State Government awards, while his participation in exhibitions, awareness programmes and training initiatives has helped him share his experience with others.
Murugesan has also shared his knowledge through All India Radio and Doordarshan.
Honey Mission expands scientific beekeeping
One of KVIC’s prominent interventions in this area is the Honey Mission, launched in 2017 to promote scientific beekeeping and create livelihood opportunities for farmers, tribal communities and unemployed youth.
Under the programme, beneficiaries receive training, bee boxes, live bee colonies and related toolkits, enabling them to establish beekeeping activities and develop them as income-generating enterprises.
According to KVIC, around 2.46 lakh bee boxes and bee colonies were distributed across India between 2017-18 and 2025-26.
The initiative resulted in around 5,500 metric tonnes of honey production during 2025-26.
Beekeeping links livelihoods with agriculture
The benefits of beekeeping extend beyond honey production. Bees play an important role in pollination, creating a direct link between beekeeping, agriculture and biodiversity.
Indian honey bees are cultivated by beekeepers across several states, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha and the North-Eastern states.
The sector can therefore provide not only supplementary income but also an entry point into a broader rural enterprise ecosystem.
The experiences of Ajin, Sundaraj and Murugesan illustrate how traditional skills and local resources can be transformed into modern businesses when supported by training, technology, finance, market access and entrepreneurship.
KVIC said its programmes are aimed at helping rural communities retain their traditional strengths while creating new economic opportunities around them.
The transition from traditional skills to value-added products is positioning village industries as an increasingly important component of India’s rural entrepreneurship and livelihood ecosystem.
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