The Director Agriculture Kashmir, Chowdhury Mohammad Iqbal today inaugurated seven days divisional level training programme on scientific beekeeping under (NBHM) at Agriculture Complex, Lalmandi Srinagar.
Under the Aegis of Meri Maati Mera Desh, the inaugural session of the week-long programme was attended by Joint Director Extension, Joint Director Inputs, Chief Agriculture Officer Srinagar, students and a large number of beekeepers.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony, the Director highlighted the importance of small scale Agri- Cottage industries including bee keeping, Mushroom Cultivation and other allied activities in the overall development of agriculture sector.
He said the main aim of organising such training programmes is to promote entrepreneurial culture among the farmers and educated youth of the region.Iqbal said the agriculture diversification is the key to reduce risk in farming activities and hence beekeeping has emerged as one of the important tools which enhances agricultural income of the farming community and also secures it against changes in climate and soil resources.
Director expressed satisfaction and said many people; mostly educated youth, are able to earn their livelihood, because of honey bee colonies. With time, more and more young men and women are turning towards bee-keeping.
He said bee keeping forms the potential part of integrated farming and could play an important role in increasing the farmers income.Director said that bee keeping as an off- farm activity has a potential of employment generation due to wide agro-climatic diversity enabling round the year bee flora availability.