Chairman KVIC distributes 1200 bee-boxes to J&K farmers

Pulwama, March 21: The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) jointly with Field Station Pulwama of CSIR Indian Institute of Indian Medicine, J&K organised an event wherein 1200 honey bee boxes, bee colonies and equipment was distributed to 120 farmers from districts of Ramban, Banihal, Shopian, Pulwama and Budgam of Jammu and Kashmir UT here at Field Station Pulwama.
Manoj Kumar, Chairman KVIC was chief guest at the event.
Others present at the programme were J.K. Gupta, Deputy CEO North Zone, KVIC, Dr Shahid Rasool, Nodal Scientist CSIR Floriculture Mission and Scientist Incharge, Field Station Pulwama, S. P. Khandelwal, State Director KVIC, J&K, Ritesh Shrivastava, Deputy Director, KVIC, New Delhi, Anil Kumar Sharma, Principal, PMTC, KVIC, Pampore, officers of KVIC, PMTC, CSIR-IIIM and eminent citizens of the valley.
At the outset of the programme, Dr Shahid Rasool in his welcome address informed the chief guest and others about the importance of the event and the various initiatives and mission programmes being implemented in the region by CSIR IIIM for the benefit of farmers, society and industry.
Highlighting the importance of honey bee rearing in enhancing the income of farmers through quality honey production and ecological services provided by honey bees for achieving sustainable and quality crop yields, he informed that CSIR under its mission on Floriculture is providing handholding to the farmer clusters through capacity building and honey production through integration of existing orchards and nectar bearing crops with apiculture.
Complimenting State office KVIC, Jammu and PMTC, KVIC, Pampore he apprised the chief guest that the farmer beneficiaries registered under CSIR Floriculture Mission have been provided trainings and the physical infrastructure with their active support and coordination. Mentioning about Purple revolution through cultivation of Lavender by the farmers of J&K, he informed that the educated youth of the region have exhibited greater inclination for agritech startups and are significantly contributing towards economic growth and prosperity of the country.
Speaking at the event, S. P. Khandelwal informed about various schemes being implemented in J&K and exhorted the participants to benefit from such schemes. State Office, KVIC Jammu and PMTC Pampore has been untiringly working towards the successful implementation of the KVIC schemes for providing necessary financial assistance and incubation to the unemployed artisans of J&K, he informed. He also acknowledged the active support of CSIR Floriculture Mission in successful conduct of training and distribution programmes for the farmer clusters.
In his presidential address at the event, Chairman KVIC stated that beekeeping as an enterprise can be a significant step for boosting the income and livelihood opportunities for farmers including landless farmers. Considering the huge area under horticultural crops like apple and other fruit crops in the UT, keeping bee hives in the crop fields can increase pollination efficiency and improve the crop yield and quality. In addition to the quality honey, beekeeping can also produce other valuable substances such as beeswax, bee propolis, and bee venom.