Hands on training on beekeeping organized

     ICAR-KVK, CCARI, North Goa and Raika & Co, Goa jointly conducted beekeeping training in Old Goa on October 19, 2024, to benefit the North Goa farming community. Dr. N. Bommayasamy, Senior Scientist and Head, KVK, urged the farming community to adopt scientific beekeeping to preserve plant biodiversity in natural habitats through improved flower pollination and increased sustainable agricultural production. He emphasized the importance of pollinators in cross-pollinated crops such as coconut and cucurbitaceous vegetable crops, which increase seed set and fruit set, and provide higher quality produce and efficient pollination of flowers may serve to protect crops from pests. Mr. Suprajit P. Raika discussed the time, site, and method of placement of honey bee colonies, ways to protect bees from natural enemies, feeding methods, pollen supplements, queen cell management, robbing and swarming of bee colonies, environmental protection of bee colonies, ways to manage honey bee colonies during different seasons, the safe use of agrochemicals in beekeeping, disease, and enemies of honey bees, and their management. Bee identification, hive cleaning, artificial feed management, and other activities were demonstrated in the program. Forty farmers (27 male and 13 female) participated in and benefited from this program. Dr. N. Bommayasamy and Mr. Rahul Kumar coordinated the activities.