CSIR Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine distributes 430 Apiculture Units under CSIR Floriculture Mission

PULWAMA: In a major outreach for strengthening the apiculture sector in the J&K UT, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine Jammu, distributed 430 apiculture units to 43 farmers of districts of Pulwama, Baramulla, Budgam, Bandipora, Shopian and Ganderbal under CSIR Floriculture Mission today at its Field Station, Bonera, Pulwama.

The event was organized as part of the culmination of the 10 days programme on “Entrepreneurship Development and Farmer Empowerment through Capacity Development” under the CSIR Floriculture Mission. The event witnessed the participation of Dr Zabeer Ahmed, Director CSIR IIIM, Dr Basharat Qayoom, IAS, Deputy Commissioner Pulwama, Er Abdur Rahim, Head CSIR IIIM Branch Lab Srinagar, Dr Shahid Rasool Principal Scientist and Scientist Incharge CSIR IIIM Field Station Bonera, Pulwama, officers and researchers of CSIR IIIM and 80 farmers and agri-entrepreneurs and eminent citizens of the area.

Speaking at the event Chief Guest Dr Basharat Qayoom, IAS, Deputy Commissioner Pulwama, appreciated the initiative and its significance for rural livelihood upliftment and fostering apiculture oriented product development and their marketing. He informed that Apiculture holds immense potential in Pulwama and other parts of Kashmir owing to huge availability of varied nectar rich floral biodiversity.

The collaborative efforts of CSIR-IIIM with local farmers and agri-entrepreneurs through its multiple farm based mission programmes has strengthenedthe agri-oriented income generation opportunities and promoted rural bio-entrepreneurship in the regionbesides contributing to the sustainable economic growth in the district, he added. He congratulated the Scientists of CSIR IIIM for the development of India’s first monofloral Lavender Honey thereby bringing the district on the global focus for production of the speciality honey and informed that the novelty honey will be registered for geographical indication tagging.

Dr Zabeer Ahmed, Director CSIR IIIM in his presidential address highlighted the Institute’s commitment to farmer centric innovations, development and grass root level translation of technologies. He said, that through the CSIR Floriculture Mission, we are working to empower farmers by diversifying their income sources by production and utilization of commercial floriculture crops and their value added products.

Our scientists have been actively working on diversification of farm enterprises and apiculture for its unique niche in the food value chain has been our priority. Beekeeping generates direct economic benefits and also improves pollination efficiency in crops, thereby enhancing overall productivity and sustainability of fragile agro-ecosystems, he added.”

While addressing the participants, Er. Abdul Rahim, Head, BLS, underlined the market prospects of quality honey and other apiculture products. He stated, that adopting scientific protocols in apiculture will enable farmers to maximize income while ensuring high quality produce that meets national and international market standards.The initiative reflects the  CSIR IIIM’s broader goal of creating a holistic model for sustainable farming and rural empowerment in Jammu and Kashmir, he added.

Earlier in his welcome address Dr Shahid Rasool, Prinicipal Scientist and Incharge, Field Station Pulwama presented a detailed technical overview of the CSIR Floriculture Mission, a pan India initiative for strengthening the floriculture sector through area expansion under region specific commercial floricultural crops and their effective marketing. He informed that under the mission, one of the seven verticals emphasizes on “Integration of apiculture in nectar bearing crops” for leveraging the floral biodiversity to produce quality honey and its value added products. The Institute is making concerted efforts in training and capacity development of the aspiring entrepreneurs, he added

The programme included technical demonstrations on modern beekeeping practices, disease management in apiaries, and integration of apiculture with floriculture to enhance crop productivity and farmer income. As part of the initiative, 430 honey bee boxes, technical manual on scientific beekeeping and certificates were distributed to 43 trained beneficiaries to support them in adoptingbeekeeping as a source of income and livelihood generation. The event concluded with an interactive session between experts and farmers.