09-03-2022:Governor has directed the Horticulture Department to install bee boxes in the world famous Valley of Flowers of Uttarakhand.
Rajbhawan, Dehradun, 09 March, 2022
Governor Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (Retd) has directed the Horticulture Department to install bee keeping boxes in the world famous Valley of Flowers of Uttarakhand. Along with this, he said that ex-servicemen should also be given training in beekeeping. Beekeeping should be promoted in the hilly districts of the state especially in the marginal areas. Women self-help groups should also be associated with this work. The Governor said that there is immense potential for beekeeping in the Valley of Flowers. All the people of Uttarakhand should get the benefit of this boon and blessings of nature. The taste and quality of honey produced in Uttarakhand is of the highest quality in the whole world. There is a need to establish the state honey as the best brand in the international market.
On Wednesday, honey was extracted from the boxes of bees kept in the Raj Bhawan. This year about 40 kg of honey was obtained from 5 boxes. It is noteworthy that the honey produced in Raj Bhawan is presented every year by the Governor to the distinguished dignitaries across the country as a gift from Uttarakhand. Melifera species of Bee have been kept in Raj Bhawan. Governor Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (Retd), Additional Secretary Smt Swati S Bhadauria, Director Horticulture Dr H S Baweja and all senior officers of Horticulture Department were present. The Governor gave instructions to increase the number of Bee keeping boxes next year.
Governor Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (Retd) said that bee keeping is helpful in doubling the income of farmers in the state. In future, Uttarakhand will make a different identity in honey production worldwide. A separate brand of honey of Uttarakhand will be established. Nature has given a unique gift like the Valley of Flowers only to Uttarakhand. Apart from being the center of attraction from the point of view of tourism, beekeeping should also be encouraged here. The Governor said that in the hilly areas of Uttarakhand, the agricultural land is less and the land holdings are small. Here beekeeping can be the biggest means of economic prosperity. Beekeeping can also be done by small farmers and landless people. This business is not even a competitor to agriculture, but it is a subsidiary of agriculture. The Governor said that nature has given invaluable gifts to Uttarakhand in the form of medicinal plants, aromatic plants, organic and natural farming. Local people should get benefit of this. This will become the biggest medium of reverse migration. Unrestricted results can be achieved by connecting these precious resources of nature with small enterprises, MSMEs and processing.
Dr HS Baweja, Director Horticulture, who was present on the occasion, said that at present there are 7020 beekeepers in Uttarakhand, by which 12175 quintals of honey are produced annually. A total of 74221 beehives are present in the state. The Horticulture Department conducts 7 days training program every year under the State Sector Scheme to the people interested in beekeeping. Since 2015 till now 11,441 people have been trained in beekeeping
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