LUDHIANA, JANUARY 17: The Department of Entomology of the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has organised a five-day “Integrated Refresher Beekeeping Training Course” for the extension personnels of the Punjab. The course, underway at PAU, has been organized under the project “Trainers trainings on entrepreneurship development in beekeeping for employment generation and rural upliftment in Punjab,” funded by National Horticulture Mission (NHM). The course involves the participation of extension scientists/officers of PAU Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK), Farm Advisory Service Scheme (FASS) and the officers of the State Department of Agriculture and Horticulture.
Dr Balwinder Singh, Head, Department of Entomology, PAU, said that the course aims at equipping the State extension functionaries with apicultural skills and the latest technologies in beekeeping. He remarked that the emphasis is being laid on diversification in apiculture for increasing profitability of the venture. Dr Singh exhorted the participants to work with dedication to bring about an impact and upward development in beekeeping. Informing that is one of the two training courses sanctioned by NHM, he told that the second course on “Techniques of bee breeding, mass queen bee rearing and production of hive products” will take place from February 21-25.
The Technical Coordinator of the course, Dr P.K. Chhuneja, said that during the course, trainees will be imparted knowledge on various aspects of beekeeping including principles, design and use of beekeeping equipment and machinery, seasonal colony management including migratory beekeeping, management of robbing, drifting and of queenlessness, layer worker colonies and swarm. Besides, the trainees will be familiarised with the scientific principles and practices vital for beekeeping success, told he. The experts will also dwell upon management strategies for various bee diseases and enemies and techniques for collection of diseased bee/brood samples and their further preparation for dispatch to Bee Pathology Labs for identification/diagnosis.
