Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 16 March 2025
To emphasize the importance of honeybee conservation, promote bee-derived products, and enhance scientific beekeeping skills, the Department of Agriculture, A&N Administration, in collaboration with the National Bee Board, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW), New Delhi, organized a two-day district-level training program on “Scientific Beekeeping – Role of Bees in Agricultural Production and Its Economics” on March 10 and 11, 2025.
The program was inaugurated by Ms. Lalita Tigga, Block Development Officer, as the chief guest, in the presence of Mr. Abdul Basheer, Zilla Parishad Member, Ferrargunj, and Mr. Ramesh Kumar, Joint Director (Agriculture) at the Community Hall, Ferrargunj, South Andaman.
In her inaugural address, Ms. Tigga encouraged Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to adopt beekeeping as a profitable self-employment venture and a vital support activity for agriculture. She emphasized the economic and ecological benefits of beekeeping in enhancing agricultural productivity.
Welcoming the participants, Mr. Ramesh Kumar highlighted the critical role of bees as pollinators in maintaining biodiversity, improving crop yields, and ensuring environmental health. Mr. Abdul Basheer also urged farmers and SHGs to embrace beekeeping, citing its potential to generate additional income while supporting sustainable farming practices.
During the technical sessions, experts from the Agriculture Department provided in-depth insights into beekeeping, including hive management, colony maintenance, and honey extraction techniques. The participants were also briefed on government schemes and institutional support available for beekeeping ventures under HVADA.
On the second day, a field visit was conducted at the beekeeping unit of Ms. Sumati Joydhar in Chouldari village. Participants observed live demonstrations on honeybee rearing, colony maintenance, and honey extraction techniques. They also engaged in hands-on training, gaining practical experience in beekeeping operations.
The training program concluded with an interactive session, where participants shared their experiences and discussed potential challenges in beekeeping. The initiative is expected to empower local farmers and SHGs with the knowledge and skills required to adopt beekeeping as a sustainable livelihood option. (Story Based on PR)