Kashmir Department of Agriculture commemorates World Bee Day

Srinagar, May 20: Kashmir’s Ministry of Agriculture commemorated “World Bee Day” on Friday. In this regard, events were organized by the department through JK UT and a division level mega event was held at Lalmandi Srinagar Agricultural Complex.

The celebrations began with the virtual message from Commissioner for Finance (Additional Chief Secretary AP&FWD) Shri Atal Duloo. He appreciated the sustained efforts made by beekeepers, beekeepers, technical experts and other stakeholders who are continuously working for the development of this sector. He said the region offers huge opportunities for the development of beekeeping as a vibrant agricultural cottage industry and additional means of income for the financial security of the farming community.

Speaking at the technical session, the Director of Agriculture of Kashmir who is also the National Bee Keeping Honey Mission (NBHM) Nodal Officer for Jammu and Kashmir, Chowdhary Mohammad Iqbal said that the program aims to promote and popularize beekeeping in the region. Fittingly, the United Nations General Assembly has declared May 20 as World Bee Day to raise awareness of the central role of bees and other pollinators in the health of people and the planet.

Technical sessions on production technology, research, scientific beekeeping, marketing challenges and solutions were also held during the event.

Several stands were set up by beekeepers, processors and other players in the sector during the event.

A large number of beekeepers, processors, other players in the sector, Co-Director Agriculture Extension Mr. Syed Peer, Co-Director Marketing Mr. Qasim Ghani, Co-Director Beekeeping and TabasumNaaz Mushrooms, Co-Director Iqbal Farms Singh, Deputy Director Planning Mr. Younis Chowdhary, Director Rakhs Madan Gopal Singh, officers from the Entomology Section as well as other senior officers from the department also participated in the event.

Similar functions were held across the division of Jammu under the supervision of Director of Agriculture Jammu Shri K.K. Sharma, during which the importance of bees and other pollinators was emphasized by the speakers.