From Our Correspondent
 Tura: The Directorate of Commerce & Industries, Meghalaya, Shillong organized a day long Master Trainers’ training on Beekeeping and Honey processing under Apiculture Mission at the Conference Hall of District Commerce & Industries Centre, Dakopre, Tura.
It may be mentioned that Apiculture is one of the nine missions under Integrated Basin Development & Livelihood Promotion programme (IBDLP). The Master Trainers’ training programme was held to upscale and promote Apiculture as an organised industrial enterprise through technology, capacity building and marketing intervention.
Delivering the Inaugural address, Chief Guest, A C Marak, ADC & Project Director, DRDA, West Garo Hills, Tura said that officers should acquaint themselves to new technology and methods and fully equip themselves before training the bee farmers. He said that the Apiculture Mission has received the right start with the Masters’ training.
In the Keynote address, I Z Wreang, Functional Manager, DCIC, Jowai, said that Beekeeping has emerges as a living industry. He informed that bees help in maintaining the ecological balance through their pollinating service. He also informed that the traditional method of beekeeping in Meghalaya by rearing bees in hollow wooden logs is crude and destructive therefore there is a need to enhance the method through scientific method. The temperature and the rich flora of Meghalaya provide immense scope for bee keeping and honey production he added.
The training was attended by DCIC officers from Baghmara, Williamnagar, Jowai, Nongstoin, Shillong and officers representing Meghalaya Khadi & Village Industries Board. Later in the technical sessions resource persons gave presentations on Methods of Beekeeping, Harvesting.
