Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 21: SKUAST-Jammu Vice-Chancellor Prof J P Sharma, inaugurated a honey testing laboratory in the university, which has been established in collaboration with National Bee Board.
Speaking on the occasion, the Vice-Chancellor said that this laboratory will be crucial step to empower beekeepers of Jammu region for increased income from honey and other bee products, He emphasized that many methods will be utilized for honey adulteration detection in this well equipped Laboratory.
While sharing his experience about the varied price of honey ranging from Rs 50 to 1500 per kg in Indian market, he stressed that to ensure the reliability of honey, testing is essential. This is because, honey has been a target for adulteration for a long time by the addition of with addition of sweeteners, misdescription of botanical source of honey, high moisture content or subsequent addition of water which can result in honey fermentation and spoilage, long storage at temperatures above 25°C, he explained.
Dr R K Gupta, Prof and Head Division of Entomology, explained that moisture content, diastase (invertase) and 5 hydroxymethylfurfuraldehyde (HMF) provide good information about honey quality and electrical conductivity and specific rotation about the nectar source. Besides, he added , moisture is the quality criterion that determines the capability of honey to remain stable and to resist spoilage by yeast fermentation: the higher the moisture, the higher the probability that honey will ferment upon storage.
Dr R S Bandral said that elevated concentrations of HMF in honey provide an indication of overheating, storage in poor conditions or age of the honey.
Dr Magdeshwar, Dr Uma Shankar and Dr Amit demonstrated about the working of different equipments. Dr Devinder Sharma deliberated that certification is becoming more and more important especially to enter with bee products on the market in developed countries.
About 150 stakeholders, including beekeepers, field functionaries, students from GCW Parade, CUJ and members of Entomological Science Academy participated in this programme.
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