SHILLONG: The state should set up an agriculture research institute that will provide state-specific technology, said a senior government official on Tuesday. Addressing a gathering on the occasion of World Honey Bee Day under the theme ‘Save Honey Bees’ at All Saints’ Hall here, Agriculture Production Commissioner KN Kumar said ICAR cannot look into state-specific agricultural issues, which makes a Meghalaya State Agriculture Research Institute imperative.
Elaborating, Kumar said ICAR has the “anxiety” to produce more in quantity which in turn leads to a compromise on quality.
Talking on the day’s subject, Kumar also stressed the need for a board for promoting honey.
“It is time to establish Meghalaya Honey Bee Board that will add so much value to the state. The Honey Mission can be launched, which can then be implemented by the Board,” Kumar said, adding that the board should promote research, technology induction, processing and marketing. He expressed concern over the dwindling population of bees owing to indiscriminate use of pesticides, which is injurious to bees.
Concern over pesticides
“The sale of pesticides should be stopped even by vendors. The bees get the smell of pesticides and in the process lose direction and then they die,” he said at the programme that was organised by the office of the District Horticulture Officer, East Khasi Hills.
The senior official called for rearing of indigenous honey bees instead of introducing foreign species such as Apis mellifera to boost honey production as “it is detrimental to the survival of indigenous species”.
Minister of Agriculture Banteidor Lyngdoh said the state government would make efforts to uplift local bee-keepers and echoed the importance of a Meghalaya Honey Bee Board.
He urged bee-keepers to take advantage of government schemes to promote apiculture in the state.
Later, speaking to reporters Lyngdoh said bee-keeping has many commercial benefits and stated that the setting up of food processing centres in the state will be beneficial for packaging of honey.
Small scale production
To a question Kumar said production of honey is good but it is at a small scale.
The State Apiculture Mission under the aegis of the Integrated Basin development and Livelihood Promotion Programme encouraged local youths to pick up apiculture as their principal activity.
“It is good but the scale is very small. We have to take it to the next level because the prototype is ready now (and) it has to be frozen at some level and then we have to take it to the next level and for that we have to access funds from the Government of India,” he said.
Commenting on the effects of urbanisation, Kumar pointed to the positive effect it will have on marketing of honey products while pollution, which is an outcome of urbanization, is not good for honey bees
“It would not be possible for bee-keeping in an urban setting but we should be in a position to rear them in rural areas as there are lots of weeds, flowers, natural vegetation which they get access,” he added.