Society to benefit from amalgamation of apiculture & women empowerment: Governor
PNS | DEHRADUN
The vice chancellor of the GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (GBPUAT), Manmohan Singh Chauhan met the governor lieutenant general (retd) Gurmit Singh at Raj Bhawan on Tuesday. In the meeting, the VC gave a presentation to the governor on the research work being undertaken by the GBPUAT under the ‘one university one research’ programme. The university is undertaking research on the topic of honey revolution through women empowerment in Uttarakhand.
Informing about the objectives and inference of the research work, the VC said that apiculture offers very good self- employment opportunities and prosperity for the people. He said that apart from honey, there is a huge demand for other products such as beeswax, royal jelly, propolis and pollen both in Indian and overseas markets. Chauhan said that the university has set up a bee research and training centre under which more than 750 women have been made master trainers in apiculture.
He further said that as per the findings of the research, Uttarakhand has a potential to produce ten times more honey than its current production. The VC informed the governor that the university has selected Almora, Kotabagh and Sitarganj for its regional testing centres. He claimed that apiculture helps in employment generation, prompts reverse migration and generates additional income by which people of other sectors also get benefitted. Bees also help in improving the quality of fruits and vegetables by the process of pollination.
The governor said that the research conducted by the university has the potential to bring a revolution in the field of apiculture. He said that the amalgamation of apiculture and women empowerment will prove beneficial for the society. The governor said that the serene environment of Uttarakhand and its enchanting valleys ensure that the honey produced here is of the best quality. He directed the university to prepare a concise report of the research work so that its findings are propagated extensively. Secretary to the governor, Ravinath Raman, GBPUAT research director AS Nain and head of entomology department Pramod Mall and others attended the presentation.
