Jammu: Director Agriculture Jammu H. K. Razdan distributed Bee Colonies along with Bee Hives among the Bee Keepers of Ramban, Banihal and Gool Clusters under Chief Minister’s Commitment Project (HCM).
Speaking on the occasion, the Director advised the Bee-Keepers to take full advantage of the scheme by adopting apiculture as employment generating enterprise. He said beekeeping can easily be integrated with traditional farming by placing the bee colonies in the oilseeds, berseem and horticultural crops. The bees while collecting the nectar and pollen from the flowers of the crops also help in the increasing the crop production through effective pollination. He further added that Apiculture is an activity that does not require too much time investment and the bee equipment is not very expensive as compared to the one needed for other agricultural activities.
Earlier, Chief Agriculture Officer, Ramban K. K. Gupta apprised that 411 bee-hives, 508 bee-colonies and 10, 000 Comb Foundation Sheets are being distributed among the farmers under HCM Project on 80% subsidy. Besides, 46 Honey Extractors are also being provided to the Bee-Keepers on subsidized cost. The farmers of the Banihal, Ramban and Gool Clusters are being given awareness through trainings and exposure visits to the various Research Institutes/ Universities within and outside state.
The beekeepers from all the three clusters including women bee-keepers participated in the program.
