SKUAST-K issues advisory for beekeepers

Srinagar, June 07: The Directorate of Research at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kashmir (SKUAST-K) has issued an urgent advisory for beekeepers in the Kashmir Valley.
This advisory comes amid reports about ongoing insecticide spraying in apple orchards across the valley to control pests such as aphids, leaf miners and fruit borers.
According to the advisory, insecticide treatments are necessary to ensure a healthy and abundant apple crop. However, it also warns of the potential risks these chemicals pose to bee populations and honey quality.
To mitigate these risks, the SKUAST-K has advised the beekeepers to relocate their bee hives at least 3-5 kilometres away from infested orchards to prevent bee mortality and contamination of honey.
“Spraying of insecticides is inevitable for the control of these insect pests to achieve a good apple crop,” the advisory states. “Beekeepers must move their hives to ensure the safety of their bees and the purity of the honey they produce.”
Any negligence in this matter could result in significant losses, both in bee populations and in the quality of honey produced, due to contamination, the advisory states.