The first World Bee Day was observed in Manipur too at different levels and different capacities on Sunday while stressing on the importance of protecting bees and other pollinators to save the food diversity.
A programme was held on the occasion at the Central Agricultural University, Eroishemba campus near Imphal with its Vice Chancellor Prof M Premjit, former bureaucrat R K Nimai and senior officials and scientists of the university as special guests.
Speaking on the occasion, R K Nimai, former secretary to Governor of Manipur expressed the need to increase the farmers’ income in Manipur for the all-round development of the State while Vice Chancellor Prof Premjit appealed to form farmers’ producers companies in the State in order to enhance the farmers’ income.
Prof Premjit who had been encouraging integrated farming systems in the north-eastern region to double farmers’ income suggested to take part in a mission for producing quality honey bee as the region uses lesser chemicals in their fields comparing to other areas apart from existing farming activities in the fields.
The Central Agricultural University will provide necessary training for bee keeping activities, he added.
Reports of observing the World Bee Day in other parts of state at different levels also came in.
On the eve of World Bee day, Senapati district bee keeping association under the sponsorship of National Bee Board organized the World Bee Day cum scientific bee keepers training programme for rural sustainable livelihood at mini stadium hall of the hill town where T Ashehrii Romeo delivered a lecture on ‘Diversity of honey bee species in Senapati’.
According to K Thohrii, a bee keeping promoter in Senapati town, there are many high valued bees colonies in the district except the southern side of the district.
Regular training for the farmers on protection of bees or use of lesser chemicals in their fields is need of the hour to save our bee colonies for the food diversity and enhancing the productions, Thohrii added.