A Seminar on “World Honey Bee Day” was organised by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) in the seminar Hall of Indira Gandhi Agricultural University (IGAU) here on Thursday.
The Seminar was inaugurated by Sunil Kujur, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Chhattisgarh.
In his address, N P Mohapatra, Chief General Manager (CGM), NABARD, Raipur briefed about the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Sweet Revolution’ and adoption of ‘Bee keeping’ honey, which is rich in natural minerals, vitamins and enzymes.
“It is one of the important activities which can enhance the income of the Rural communities”, he said.
Mohapatra further added that the medicinal and food value of honey and other hive products are invaluable and it supports agricultural activities through facilitating critical processes for example cross pollination and improves crop and seed yield.
He further informed that NABARD will identify potential areas for bee keeping activity in the districts of Chhattisgarh where potential exist and include them in the PlPs and State Focus paper for 1919-20 for enhanced credit flow.
In his address, Additional Chief Secretary Sunil Kujur said “the promotion of Bee Keeping activity in a big way can contribute immensely to forest conservation efforts”.
He also interacted with the farmers and directed Horticulture Department to provide Comb Foundation machines used in the Honey Bee activity to the farmers of the Bastar Region.
Kujur also said that the scope of the activity in Chhattisgarh particularly in the Bastar Region was enormous.
The Seminar was attended by S S Rao, Director, Research, IGKV, N K Pandey, Director, Horticulture, Senior Scientists of IGKV and farmers taking up the honey activity in the State of Chhattisgarh.
Ram Narendra, a progressive farmer of Dantewada district made a presentation on ‘Honey Bee Keeping’ at the Seminar.