Scientific Beekeeping Techniques Imparted under ‘Farmer’s FIRST Project’

A Reporter

SHILLONG: ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam has been conducting several programmes for the farming community to improve the livelihood, women empowerment and efforts towards doubling the farmer’s income. Training cum demonstration programme on ‘Scientific Beekeeping’ was organized on Wednesday at Lalumpam village (Ri Bhoi) by Division of Crop Protection under ‘Farmer’s FIRST project’. Twenty beekeeping farmers were selected for this programme from seven different villages adopted under this project. Traditionally farmers are adopting local techniques of rearing bees, which are less economical and non-scientific. Considering the problems faced by the farmers in the region, day-long training cum demonstration programme was aimed to deliver and demonstrate scientific techniques of beekeeping. Dr R. Laha, Principal Investigator of this project stressed the importance of beekeeping and their integration under farming system approach. Dr. D. M. Firake, Scientist (Entomology) conducted the training and demonstrations on different beekeeping aspects. Farmers were exposed to knowledge and hand on demonstration on caste differentiation and resource partitioning in bees, artificial feeding, queen rearing techniques, uniting bee colonies, scientific honey extraction and general management practices of bee colonies etc. Selected beekeepers were previously provided with different essential equipment and bee boxes to promote scientific beekeeping in Meghalaya.