The celebration was presided over by Sanjay Verma, Joint Director Agriculture Inputs Jammu in presence of Satish Sharma, Joint Director Agriculture Extension Jammu and Dr. Ashwani Sharma, Deputy Director (Central)/ Liaison Officer Apiculture and Mushroom Development, Jammu. The event commenced with a welcome address by Rajesh Verma, Assistant Entomologist, who elaborated on the significance and history of World Bee Day.
A special message from Arvinder Singh Reen, Director Agriculture Jammu, was also shared during the programme. He emphasized this year's campaign to raise awareness among youth and other stakeholders about the indispensable role of bees and other pollinators in agriculture, ecological balance, and biodiversity preservation. World Bee Day, celebrated annually since 2018 on May 20th to coincide with the birthday of Anton Janša, a pioneer of modern beekeeping, focuses on engaging youth in beekeeping and pollinator conservation.
Key speakers included Satish Sharma, Joint Director Agriculture Extension, Dr. Ashwani Sharma, Deputy Director Central/Liaison Officer Apiculture and Mushroom Development Jammu, Assistant Entomologist Rajesh Verma, and Dr. Adil Rashid. They were joined by enthusiastic beekeepers and farmers from the Jammu District. Progressive farmers and beekeepers such as Vinod Kumar from village Palli and Tilak Raj Choudhary shared their invaluable experiences, enriching the event with practical insights into beekeeping.
The event featured a string of activities aimed at supporting local beekeepers and spreading awareness about the critical role bees play in maintaining a healthy environment. Veena Wazir hosted the programme, ensuring a smooth and engaging event for all attendees. Farmers, beekeepers, section officers, sectoral heads, and other staff members of the agriculture department also attended the programme.