Learn while you earn programme with TNAU: Honey processing programme for students

Coimbatore: The Department of Agricultural Entomology at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in Coimbatore is offering an experience learning course called Commercial Beekeeping to final year students of the B.Sc. Hons (Agri), B.Sc. Hons (Hort), and ABM programmes. 

To make the students become entrepreneurs, a mini honey processing project formulated honey processing, packing, and sale during vacations was devised, with profits earned among the students.

This project was inaugurated by the Vice Chancellor of TNAU, Dr.V.Geethalakshmi at the Insectary, Department of Agricultural Entomology in the presence of Dr.R.Thamizh Vendan, (Registrar), Dr.M.Shanthi, (Director, Center for Plant Protection Studies), Dr.N.Venkatesa Palanichamy, (Dean, Agriculture), Dr.P.Irene Vethamoni, (Dean, Horticulture), Dr.V. Balasubramanian, (Controller of Examinations), Dr.M.K.Kalarani, Director, Crop Management, Dr. N. Maragatham, (Dean, Students Welfare), Dr.D.Somasundaram, (Director, Agri Business Development), Dr. P.P.Murugan, (Director, Extension Education), Dr.A.Raviraj (Dean, Engg.), Dr. M.Muthuswamy, Deputy Registrar and Heads of various Departments.

In general, raw honey contains more than 20% moisture and yeast cells, which causes fermentation and deterioration during storage. Honey should be processed to bring down moisture content and eliminate yeast cells. In this context, the students demonstrated the honey processing steps of extraction, heating, straining, filtering, cooling, and bottling in order to eliminate the yeast cells present in raw honey and reduce the moisture content below 20% in order to obtain good quality honey that can be stored for two years.

Moreover, various purity tests viz., fiehe test, fructose–glucose ratio test, hydroxymethyl furfural test, total reducing sugar test and moisture test were demonstrated by the students. 

Under this programme, raw honey will be processed at the Honey Processing Unit available at the Department of Entomology, TNAU, Coimbatore and sold @ Rs.200 for 500gm and Rs.50 for 100gm. The students are expected to earn a profit of Rs.85,000/- within a two months period (June and July 2023) by involving them in honey processing, packing and sale. 

This programme will serve as a model for developing entrepreneurship skills among undergraduate students.