Rajouri: Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University Rajouri Organised one day National Seminar on “Bees and Beekeeping: Future Prospects and Constraints in India”. The seminar was organised by the Department of Zoology and sponsored by the National Mission in Himalayan Studies (NMHS), Ministry Of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, New Delhi.
Prof. Akbar Masood, Vice Chancellor of BGSBU congratulated department of Zoology for organising the seminar. In a statement, Prof Akbar encouraged the participants to learn and conduct researches on various aspects of bee-keeping as this activity augments and ensures pollination in variety of fruits and vegetables. He added that the survival of bees actually ensures the existence and survival of the mankind.He said that under guidance of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi the Government has launched ‘Honey Mission’ as part of ‘Sweet Revolution’.
Prof. Iqbal Parwez, Dean Academic Affairs formally welcomed the Delegates and other participants of the seminar and highlighted the activities of Department of Zoology. He congratulated the department for taking lead in bringing scientific research from Lab to land. He said that beekeeping is a profitable subsidiary occupation, from which farmers could reap good economic benefits along with agriculture. He emphasized on adopting the techniques of scientific beekeeping and developing entrepreneurship.
Prof. Vikas Nanda, Department of Food Eng. & Technology, Sant Longowal Institute of Eng. & Technology, Longowal, Punjab was the Resource Person of the Seminar. While addressing the audience, Prof. Nanda congratulated the Department of Zoology for organising the event. He put light on the Bees and Beekeeping industry and updated the audience about the issues coming in the particular industry in the recent era. While speaking, he informed the dignitaries about the adulteration of Honey and the methods to minimise the adulteration in this small-scale industry. Moreover, he highlighted the different scientific methods of honey profiling for quality analysis.
Other Resource persons that participated in the seminar were Dr. Munazah Yaqoob, Associate Professor-cum-Senior Scientist of SKUAST-Kashmir and Dr. Arvind K. Isher, Senior Scientist-SKUAST-Jammu.
The Organising Secretary of the seminar Dr. Sajad H. Parey acknowledged National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS)-Almora, Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change for providing extra mural grants to the department of Zoology for establishing the Apiary within the campus. He stressed upon the increasing the strength of honey colonies within the Rajouri district for good and quality production of agricultural crops and for engaging the youth of the district with Beekeeping Industry.
Book entitled “Butterflies of Pirpanjal range of Kashmir Himalaya” authored by Dr. Sajad H. Parey and Taslima Sheikh was also released during the seminar.
The proceedings of the Seminar were handled by Ms. Shahnaza Anjam, Assistant Professor of the Department of Zoology and the vote of thanks was presented by Dr. Mohd Salim Reshi, Assistant Professor Department of Zoology, BGSBU. Mr. Deepak Kumar Goal, Punjab University, Chandigarh bagged the first prize in oral presentation. The second prize was conferred to Dr. Zubair A. Rather of Kashmir University and the third prize was won by Dr. Indu Kumari, Assistant Professor Arni University, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh.
Young Researchers of different Universities of other states also participated and shared their research findings with the Professors and Senior Scientists of the event. Dr. M. A. Hannan Khan, on behalf of Head Department of Zoology, BGSBU discussed about the ongoing research projects within the department and how the faculty members are contributing to wide disciplines of the Zoology within BGSBU campus.
