Meghalaya has huge potential in beekeeping, said BL Sarswat, the executive director of the National Bee Board, New Delhi on Tuesday.
During an interaction with bee keepers of East Khasi Hills district at the Directorate of Agriculture’s Seminar Hall, Sarswat stressed the need to inculcate scientific approach by beekeepers of the state.
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An official communiqué said Sarswat during the interaction told the beekeepers that along with proper training and management, they can make immense financial benefit from bee keeping.
Acknowledging the importance of bees in food production and survival of the human race, he urged beekeepers to work with dedication.
The chairman of the Meghalaya Farmers’ Empowerment Commission, K N Kumar and officers of the agriculture department were also present.
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Kumar informed that since the launch of the Apiculture Mission in the state, many interventions have been made in the sector.
“Till date, over 7000 beekeepers have been trained and owing to the superior quality of the Meghalaya honey, there is a huge demand from markets aboard,” he said.
Stating that Meghalaya will be the first state in the Northeast to have an Integrated Bee Development Centre (IBDC), Kumar said the department is ready to go throttle to establish the centre, once the technical clearance is granted.
The purpose of Sarswat’s two-day visit to the state was to study the apiculture scenario in the state and also to technically assist the agriculture department in moving forward with the establishment of the IBDC in the state.
For establishment of the IBDC in the state an amount of Rs 10 crore has been approved by the Central government the through the ministry of tribal affairs.