Three days training programme on Bee Keeping organized by the Joint Director of Agriculture (Extension) Jammu A.K. Malhotra concluded here today in the Directorate of Agriculture. Around 25 unemployed youth/ farmers from Jammu division participated in the camp. The programme was inaugurated by the Director of Agriculture Jammu Sudesh Kaul who said that Bee Keeping and mushroom cultivation are the thrust areas of the department which create employment generation facilities for the farmer. He advised the farmers to take interest in the training programme, learn management of bee colonies as after the completion of the training programme bee colonies shall be given to the trainees on subsidized cost to establish their independent units. Mr. Malhotra informed that trainees that they will be imparted trainings in three phases September, October and February 2017 so as to make them well versed with the bee keeping and their management. He said that J&K is known because of white honey produced in the state which comes from a wild bush Plectranthus rugosus locally called Solai crop due to its colour, taste & aroma. He said that successful bee keeping is chase of flora.
He said that against existing potential of 1, 25,000 bee colonies in Jammu division, at present we have 32,000 Nos. of bee colonies which means hardly 25% of existing potential has been utilized and there is vast scope of bee keeping in J&K. Practical demonstration was given to the trainees in the Apiary Yard at Raya by Nand Kishore Sharma. Dr. V.B. Singh & Dr. Rakesh Sharma from SKUAST, Jammu (Raya Station) explained about role of honey bees in cross pollination of Horticulture & Agriculture crops.Dr. Devinder Sharma, Scientist from SKUAST-Jammu spoke on diseases and Insect-pest control of honey bees. Subject Matter Specialists Surinder Misri & Sunil Gandotra, Programme Officer Arun Makhnotra, Sh. S.N. Sharma, SDAO Akhnoor, Sh. Alok Sharma, Apiculture Dev. Asstt. & Sh. Om Prakash Sharma, AEO also spoke about different topics on bee keeping during the training course. D.P. Khajuria, President Beekeepers Association & Yog Raj Sharma Progressive Beekeeper spoke about the prospectus, present status of beekeeping in Jammu and impressed about insurance of bee colonies and protection of bee flora. The training concluded with vote of thanks by Surinder.