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Apiculture gaining ground in Himachal

SHIMLA: Apiculture -- the breeding of bees on a commercial basis -- is fast catching up in Himachal Pradesh. Once considered economically unviable, it is now emerging as a major source of earning for the farmers. The State Horticulture Department is providing necessary skills to the youth. The department has 32 bee stations and demonstration apiaries spread across the State. According to an official spokesperson, it also certifies facilities of private players with an AGMARK.

It also provides bee colonies at reasonable rates to orchard owners for pollination of fruits. Pollination in most of the temperate fruits, especially in apples, is done by insect, particularly by honeybees. There are about 1,500 bee colonies in the State which have been divided into two zones — Shimla and Kangra. The Horticulture Technological Mission project, too, has done its bit by giving subsidies besides making available bee hives, bee colonies, honey extractors, bee veils and C.F. sheets to needy and unemployed individuals.

The efforts have borne fruit and the number of commercial beekeepers in the State has gone up to 1,500 in the last couple of years.

Since the hill State is endowed with rich flora and fauna, the quality of the honey produced is high, which is used in the preparation of medicines. The annual production in the State varies from 700 to 1,600 MT depending upon the weather conditions. Innovation needs to be brought into standardisation, quality control and marketing of the entire process so that apiculture yields on the high potential it has, both in terms of value and volume in the market, said the spokesperson.

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