Agri Dept organises awareness programme on beekeeping at Shopian

Shopian, Sep 13: The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Shopian on Wednesday organized a Seminar cum Awareness programme on ‘Transformation of Bee-Keeping’, under National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM) at mini-secretariat, Shopian with the aim to deliberate the importance of beekeeping and to achieve the goals of ‘Sweet Revolution’.
The programme was inaugurated by the Deputy Commissioner, (DC) Shopian, Faz Lul Haseeb and was attended by officers of Agri- allied departments, experts from SKUAST, KVK, Information, Banks, Employment, NRLM and other officers, besides farmers, beekeepers and unemployed youth.
Addressing the occasion, DC stressed that the department is providing financial support under National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) and Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) for taking apiculture ventures, both for livelihood /income generation as well as for ecological balance.
Honey is being used for varied purposes in the world and its demand is rising, said DC while asking farmers to take advantage of seminars and tap the rising demand of honey across the world.
He asked farmers to make efforts for cultivating good quality honey, on a massive scale so as to capitalize the rising demand.
During the seminar, the resource persons provided awareness to the beekeepers and potential youth regarding the potential of beekeeping in the district.
They sensitised farmers and potential youth to take up benefits of the available government schemes for creating livelihood for the youth on one side and for pollination and health benefits on the other.
Speakers also disseminated awareness among the people about various new and scientific beekeeping cultivation methods so that production and productivity is increased across the district.
Emphasis was also laid on to ensure hand holding of farmers not only in increasing the production but to work on the marketing aspect to fetch the best prices of their products.
Speaking on the occasion, CAO asked the farmers to take maximum benefit under the programme by getting training and awareness of different Government schemes to establish their income generating units under the Apiculture sector.
Bee keepers, integrated farmers and others engaged in interactive sessions with experts on varied issues of beekeeping management strategies.
During day one, sessions on the importance of bees, the role of pollination, management of bee colonies and high-income opportunities in the beekeeping sector were held where detailed information was provided.