PAU Organizes Training Course On Beekeeping

Ludhiana, October 5, 2015: A five-day “Basic Beekeeping Training Course” began at the village Barmi, district Ludhiana today. The Department of Entomology of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has organized the course under the aegis of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna. The course has been specifically designed for the schedule castes.

Dr Balwinder Singh, Director of Research, PAU and Head of Entomology Department, highlighted, “PAU is pioneer in successful introduction, establishment and spread of Italian honey bee in the country, in general and Punjab, in particular.” The research and extension efforts of PAU’s apiculture scientists have ushered in commercialization in apiculture in the country and brought in ‘Sweet Revolution,’ he said. This has made possible for the country to export honey to several other countries, he added. Dr Singh said the present basic beekeeping training course aims at providing livelihood to the underprivileged and unemployed rural youth of the state, thus, enabling them to obtain social and economic security.

Giving details, Dr Pardeep Kumar Chhuneja, Course Director, said the trainees will be imparted practical knowledge on various aspects of beekeeping through lectures, demonstrations and hands-on-practice. The experts will dwell on seasonal bee management practices; colony management; management of bee enemies and diseases; swarming, robbing and queenlessness problems in honey bee colonies and their remedies; honey and beeswax extraction, processing and marketing, he informed. Dr Jaspal Singh is the Technical Coordinator of the course.