The Krishi Vigyan Kendra of the Central Plantation Crops Research Institute here and the State Horticultural Mission have jointly organised a two-day workshop on meliponiculture (rearing of common stingless bees) with an objective to set up one stingless beehive in every homestead in the district.
Farmers to benefit
Leading the session, S. Devaneshan, Head, All-India Coordinated Research Project on Honeybees, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, highlighted the potential of apiculture and meliponiculture as an income-generating enterprise for farmers.
A district like Kasaragod with 58,088 hectares of coconut and 25,374 hectares of rubber cultivations had the potential of rearing 2,53,740 honeybee colonies.
But, no initiatives had been taken so far to tap even 10 per cent of the potential, he said.
The programme, inaugurated by Ravi Bhat, Director-in-charge, CPCRI, was presided over by Thirumaleshwara Bhat, Deputy Director of Agriculture, Kasaragod.
Sajan Jose of St. Joseph’s College, Moolamattam, also handled the classes. Sixty-five farmers from the district attended the programme, which concluded on Thursday.
