Farmers briefed on importance of bees in pollination
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 05 2024:
A week-long training programme on beekeeping, which is being organised by Manipur Beekeeping and Honey Mission (MBHM), Directorate of horticulture and soil conservation under the aegis of National Bee Board, commenced from Friday at Tera Lukram Leirak, here.
Speaking on the occasion, MIDH/MBHM mission director Md Zakir Hussain informed that the training is the first of a series of 10 such programmes to be conducted under National Bee Board.
He educated the participants on the importance of bees in crop pollination and how they are crucial for good harvest in both agriculture and horticulture.
Even though there are other creatures that help in pollination, bees are the best pollinators as they can increase the yield by 15 to 20 per cent, he said.
The mission director further said that beekeeping is a profession that can bring healthy income and it requires little capital, land, care .and management except for weekly monitoring of insect invasion in their hives.
Moreover, no feeding is required for the bees.
Honey and wax are the main products of beekeeping, he said and encouraged the participants to apply techniques shared by experts during the training programme in launching own venture.
While pointing out that farmers need not worry about marketing of their products as there is high demand for honey, Zakir Hussain also appealed to the public to inform the department if there are any wild bee hives in their locality, for which the department is also providing a small token award to the informant.
KVK Ukhrul programme co-ordinator Dr Soibam Khogen, Churachandpur SMS plant protection Dr Johnson, and MIDH assistant technician Hidangmayum Shreera are the main experts of the training programme being participated by 30 people.