All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Honey bees and Pollinators, (ICAR – AICRP (HB&P), School of Agricultural Sciences (SAS), Nagaland University, Medziphema, conducted an advanced training on “Scientific Meliponiculture and Apiculture for better Honey production & Pollination” at Panchayat Hall, Ngwalwa Village on October 6.
Gracing the inaugural ceremony as guest of honour, head of department of Entomology, SAS, NU, Dr. Imtinaro L emphasised on the vital role of bees not only for production of honey or other by-products but also pollination. She disclosed that bees and other insect pollinators help in the biological pollination processes of flowering crops and plants thereby producing food for human beings. She therefore called for conservation of bees in order to sustain life and added that Nagaland has vast, untapped natural resources to become a bee hub provided farmers adopt scientific beekeeping methodically.
Chairman, Ngwalwa Village Council, Kiedipeu Meyase also addressed the gathering as special guest where he called upon beekeepers to commit themselves to learn more of scientific beekeeping. He urged farmers to grab the opportunity so that modern techniques can be incorporated to hone their skills in productive beekeeping.
The training was attended by 60 beekeepers from neighbouring villages. Resource persons at the training were Dr. M.K. Deka, Principal Scientist, Entomology, AAU, Jorhat, Assam; Dr. Pankaj Neog, Asso. Prof., Entomology, SAS, NU; Dr. Hijam Shila Devi, Asst. Prof., Entomology, SAS, NU and Dr. Avinash Chauhan, Principal Investigator, AICRP (HB&P), Entomology, SAS, NU.
Earlier, the training programme was chaired by Dr. Avinash Chauhan, Principal Investigator, AICRP Honeybees & Pollinators, who briefed the schedule and highlighted importance of bees and their conservation in agroecosystems.
The training concluded with distribution of certificates and practical sessions where demonstrations were conducted by Dr. Avinash Chauhan, Principal Investigator and Ngukho Yalietsu, Bee Professional, both from AICRP (HB&P), SAS, NU, Medziphema.