Samba, May 21: To celebrate World Bee Day, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Samba, under the dynamic leadership of Prof. B.N. Tripathi, Vice-Chancellor of SKUAST-Jammu, and the direct supervision of Prof. Amrish Vaid, Director Extension, SKUAST-Jammu, Wednesday organised an awareness programme at village Sadwal. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from over 50 farmers from the area.
The programme was chaired by Prof. Sanjay Khajuria, Chief Scientist and Head, KVK Samba, who warmly welcomed all the beekeepers and farmers of Sadwal village. In his address, he emphasised the importance of observing World Bee Day annually to raise awareness about the critical role of bees and other pollinators. He stressed that pollinators are vital to maintaining biodiversity and ensuring global food security. Prof. Khajuria underlined that beekeeping not only enhances crop productivity through improved pollination but also offers a viable avenue for farmers to supplement and potentially double their income. He elaborated on value addition, grading, and marketing of honey as key tools to maximise returns. He also highlighted the robust efforts undertaken by KVK Samba in promoting beekeeping, in close coordination with allied departments. Dr Saurav Gupta, Senior Scientist (Entomology), delivered an expert lecture on the theme of World Bee Day 2025: “Bee inspired by nature to nourish us all”. He spoke at length about the indispensable role of bees in agriculture, food systems, and the wider ecosystem. Dr Gupta highlighted the threats facing pollinators, including habitat loss, pesticide use and climate change, which have led to a sharp global decline in bee populations. The proceedings of the programme were conducted by Dr Saurav Gupta, and a heartfelt vote of thanks was delivered by Roshan Lal, acknowledging the collaborative spirit and growing awareness within the farming community of border village Sadwal in Samba district.
