RESUBELPARA/SHILLONG, May 20: Beekeepers from North Garo Hills were on Saturday asked to increase the beekeeping activity so as to increase the overall production by seeking technical assistance and financial support through various government departmental schemes.
Making the appeal, North Garo Hills Additional Deputy Commissioner JRT Sangma, who was the chief guest for a programme to mark the World Bee Day in Resubelpara, remarked that the locally available honey in the region in particular and the state in general has a huge commercial demand outside the state owing to its purity, nutritional and medicinal qualities.
However, the dearth in the availability of such honey is yet to meet the quantitative demand, Sangma said.
The programme, which was thematised on ‘Bee Engaged — in Pollinator Friendly Agricultural Production’, emphasised on generating awareness of bees as pollinators and their contribution to the environment.
Referring to the theme, Sangma said it was imperative to protect bees that play a significant role in creating food security and preserving the ecosystem.
District Horticulture Officer, NGH, Canning S Shabong, on the other hand, highlighted the objective of the programme and said that the programme was aimed at disseminating awareness among the people on the importance of bees.
Enlightening the gathering on the initiatives of the government to upscale agri-horticultural production through beekeeping, Assistant Director of Horticulture, Salma Momin, informed that under Apiculture Mission 2.0, so far five clusters have been identified in the district where a minimum of 50 beekeepers each would be provided bee boxes, other equipment and hands-on training on bee rearing.
The state’s lone Integrated Bee Development Centre (IBDC) at Sambrak Seed Farm, North Garo Hills, would also serve the people in scientific honey processing, value addition, bottling, labeling and marketing once the IBDC gets functional, Momin added.
During the programme, various local honey products by different self-help groups and entrepreneurs were put on display.
The programme was attended by a large number of beekeepers, farmers, master beekeepers, et al.
Programme in Ampati
A similar programme to mark the day was also organised by the Office of the District Horticulture Officer, South West Garo Hills, at Ampati on Saturday.
According to a statement here, the programme was organised with an aim to raise awareness on the importance of pollinators and their contribution to sustainable development.
During the programme, several beekeepers from across the district had set up stalls where beekeeping tools and gears, traditional bee boxes and also locally produced honey were put for display.
The District Horticulture Office also distributed bee boxes to the beneficiaries of the district.
South West Garo Hills Superintendent of Police, Vikash Kumar, who attended the programme as the chief guest, informed the gathering that the government provides necessary support to beekeepers.
Kumar also encouraged the new beneficiaries to develop enough interest for successful beekeeping.