SRINAGAR: The Director of Agriculture Kashmir, Chowdhury Mohammad Iqbal today inaugurated a seven-day Divisional Level Training Programme (DLTP) on scientific beekeeping under NBHM at Agriculture Complex Lalmandi Srinagar.
The inaugural session of the week-long training programme was attended by Chief Agriculture Officer Srinagar, Assistant Entomologist, students and a large number of beekeepers.
Addressing the inaugural session, the Director highlighted the importance of small-scale Agri-Cottage industries including beekeeping, mushroom cultivation and other allied activities in the overall development of the agriculture sector. He said the main aim of organising such training programmes is to promote entrepreneurial culture among the farmers and educated youth of the region.
Chowdhury Iqbal said that agriculture diversification is the key to reducing, risk in farming activities and hence beekeeping has emerged as one of the important tools which not only enhances the agricultural income of the farming community but also secures it against changes in climate and soil resources.
The Director of Agriculture expressed satisfaction and said many people, mostly educated youth are able to earn their livelihood, because of honey bee colonies. With time, more and more young men and women are turning towards beekeeping. He said beekeeping forms the potential part of integrated farming and could play an important role in increasing the farmers’ income.
The Director said that beekeeping as an off-farm activity has the potential for employment generation due to wide agro-climatic diversity enabling round-year bee flora availability.
The DLTP that began today is scheduled to culminate on the 18th of September, 2023.
It is important to mention that the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) aims to promote bee-keeping and provide self-sustaining employment opportunities among the farmers and unemployed youth in rural India.
Earlier, the Director kick-started the seventh phase of vegetable seedings distribution at the kitchen garden of Lalmandi Srinagar.
