Kamjong: To strengthen the livelihood and improve local entrepreneurship, Central Agriculture University (CAU), Imphal has provided a One Day Training Program on Advanced beekeeping techniques in the Indian bee under Tribal Sub-Plan in Phungyar Sub-Divisional headquarter under Kamjong District.
The program was organized by Tribal Resource Development Centre (TRDC) and supported by Kamjong Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) and sponsored by AICRP on Honeybees and Pollinators, College of Agriculture, CAU.
A number of bee farmers from around 10 villages from the Phungyar area, old and young alike including the women folk participated in the program in need of consultation, suggestions and opinions from the Bee experts who are otherwise not available in the area.
As per expert’s opinion, increasing knowledge and upskilling in beekeeping is important as it improves the environment and village economy and also provides a great sense of community.
Beekeeping, besides being a relaxing activity, provides an added advantage in increasing the pollination of garden crops, vegetables and flowers.
Dr. SM Haldhal, Principal Investigator on Honey Bee and Pollination of CAU spoke on entrepreneurship in the honeybee and honey processing industry by citing many examples of honey processing in the University and other states.
Quoting his favourite line from Leo Tolstoy “If I were young again, I would go to the country where people do not talk about the politics and newspapers but about bees and agriculture”.
Dr. Kh Ibohal Singh Associate Prof of CAU emphasised the role of beekeeping in agriculture and horticulture crop production.
Arambam Suchitra Devi, a leading bee professional from CAU spoke on the beekeeping equipment and its uses and maintenance. Some of the important tools as per her analysis are protective gears, the smoker, the hive tool, bee brush and extracting equipment.
CN Nidhi, Research Scholar of CAU highlighted the colony multiplication in honeybees. She enthusiastically focused on the creation of new colonies with a young mated queen in the boxes.
Mr Yaruingam Ningshen of TRDC elaborated on the importance of the honey bee and its utility in the area and also in the market.
Dr. Kingson Siro, representative of KCCI stated that the absence of financial institutions in the area for many years is a major hurdle for bee farmers.
The major problem of the farmers being the unavailability of boxes.
Around 70 beneficiaries received certificates and bee hive boxes in the course of the training.
The participants and the villagers conveyed their heartfelt appreciation to the CAU, TRDC and KCCI and all the resource persons for taking up the training program expressed high hopes for the future.
To date, Village for Volunteer Development (VVD) is the only Ukhrul-based NGO which has conducted a training program on Bees by giving material support to the farmers in the area of Kamjong district.
