The National Conclave on Stingless Honeybees_2024 was organized in Thiruvananthapuram YMCA on June 18th &19th by Federation of Indigenous Apiculturists (FIA) in collaboration with Entmological Society of India, NABARD, Meghalaya Farmers Empowerment Commission and a host of organizations.
The highly interactive National Stingless Bees Conclave was very informative with the active participation of small farmers from across the nation . Presence of about 25 eminent scientists, researchers from various agricultural universities and experts from the policy making bodies of central and state governments made the conclave richer in content.
The Conclave was led by Dr.TP.Rajendran (Former ADG, ICAR & Patron FIA). Prof. Stephen Devanesan (Former Dean, KAU) welcomed the participants to the meeting.
Dr: B. Ashok IAS, Principal Secretary & Agriculture Production Commissioner, Vice Chancellor-KAU performed the inauguration ceremony.
Dr. K. Prathapan, Vice Chancellor, D. Y. Patil Agri: University of Agriculture & Technolgy, Talsande, Kolhapur, Maharashtra; Dr.Sachin Suroshe Project Coordinator, ICAR-AICRP on Honeybees & Pollinators; Dr.Roy Stephen, Dean KAU were spoke about the necessity of conservation and the steps to be taken in future to create awareness among the common people.
Prominent scientists of national repute, Dr. TP Rajendran retd. Assistant Director Genral (PP), ICAR; Prof. Shashidhar Viraktamath, and Prof. V. V. Belavadi, retd. Entomology Professors, University of Agriculture Science, Bengaluru; Dr Amala Udayakumar, NBAIR, Bengaluru, Prof. Stephen Devanesan addressed over 120 stingless beefarmers from Kerala, Meghalaya, Karnataka, Tamilnadu. Their lectures were very thought provoking .
The “Perunthachan” of Kerala Bee Farming community , Udhyan Pandit award winner Sri SA John and the farmers from different states shared their experience and discussed the scientific methodology to be followed in Stingless honeybee culture. Dr. Amala Udayakumar from Senior Scientist, National Bureau of Agriculturally important, Dr. Premila participated .
The unique National Conclave organized by FIA. The Executive Committee (EC) Members – Sri A. Abdul Kalam (Patron), Sri KK Thomas (President), Sri SA John (Treasurer), EC members: Sri KG Nair, Sri G. Ravindran Nair, Sri Biju Sebastian & Sri Varkey were the people who worked very hard to achieve success of the Conclave. A lot of FIA supporters offered their helping hands in organising the Conclave.
It was a rare opportunity for the participating stingless honeybee farmers and other stakeholders to interact with Stingless Bee farmers and researchers from the other states of Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa and Goa.
Though the media in Kerala totally ignored this elite Sangam, which was reported very prominently by Print-Visual media from other states.
-A BeeHive in every home.
-Form Honey Bee Club in schoos, on the model of Science clubs .
-Add a spoonful of pure honey to the children’s breakfast to boost the immunity of children.
– Procurement of pure honey from the local hives of farmers, as required for schools under the guidance of their PTA.
Rajendra Babu KR , Meliponiculturist
krrajendrababu@gmail.com
