Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 8: The 2-day annual review meeting of AICRP on Honey Bees and Pollinators was kicked off at Sher-e- Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu (SKUAST-J) today.
During the meet, about 24 centres of AICRP on Honey Bees and Pollinators of the country who are participating in the mega event will make scientific deliberations on diverse aspects of bee keeping.
On first day, Prof JP Sharma, VC SKUAST-J, was the chief guest. In his address, Prof Sharma said that the annual honey production in Jammu and Kashmir is 90 metric tons and there is immense scope of increasing the production of honey. He also emphasized to introduce diversification in apiculture. Prof Sharma informed that a honey testing laboratory is being established in the University.
Dr TR Sharma, DDG (Crop Sciences), ICAR, New Delhi, in his address, stressed that all the honey bee centres of the country should work in unison to rectify the problems and bridge the gaps in scientific honey production technology. He impressed upon the adaptation of exotic honey bees in the local environment.
In his address, Dr SC Dubey, ADG (PP&BS) ICAR, New Delhi, said that India is one of the leading exporters of honey, but the country is lacking in export of honey by-products. He said that special emphasis should be given on domestication of bumble bee as the pollination by bumble bee results in higher fruit quality and quantity.
Dr Balraj Singh, Project Coordinator, ICAR, AICRP, said that honey bee production and export was one of the priority areas of the Government of India and focus was on providing self-employment to the youth.
Earlier, Dr Pardeep Wali, Director Research presented the research activities of the University. During the inaugural session, Dr DP Abrol, Dr VB Belavadi, Dr PK Chhuneja, Dr Stephen Devnashan and Dr Harish Sharma who did pioneered work in apiculture were felicitated. Vinod Kumar, a progressive bee keeper of J&K was also facilitated. Annual report on honey bee and pollinators was also released during the programme.
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