RAMBAN, APRIL 02: The 7-day CSR Honey Entrepreneurial Training Programme on Scientific Beekeeping concluded today at Gool with distribution of certificates and Bee Veils to the participants.
The training programme, sponsored by J&K Bank under CSR, included classroom sessions as well as hands-on practical training and field demonstrations on modern beekeeping practices, honey extraction, value addition and marketing.
The concluding event was attended by Sub divisional Magistrate Imtiaz Ahmed as Chief Guest along with Branch Manager J&K Bank Faisal Shamas Wani as guest of honour.
The programme was funded by Jammu & Kashmir Bank under CSR initiative and organized by the Centre for Agriculture and Rural Development (CARD) in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Ramban.
On the concluding day, certificates were distributed among 105 participants, comprising unemployed rural youth, farmers and farm women, who successfully completed the training. In addition, bee Veils were also distributed among the participants to encourage them to adopt beekeeping as a sustainable income-generating activity.
In his address, the SDM highlighted the immense potential of Ramban’s famous GI-tagged Sulai Honey, recently praised by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme. The Prime Minister had noted how the unique white-coloured honey, derived from wild basil (Sulai) flowers in the hilly terrains of Ramban, has gained national recognition post its GI tag, opening new avenues for exports and economic growth.
Addressing the participants, the Chief Agriculture Officer Dr. Vinay Kumar Jandial highlighted the initiatives taken by the Agriculture Department for promotion of apiculture in the district and assured continued technical support and convergence with government schemes.
District Agriculture Officer Kuldeep Bassan emphasized the importance of scientific management of bee colonies and proper utilization of the inputs provided. Shakir Khan, Nodal Officer, Centre for Agriculture and Rural Development (CARD) appreciated the active participation of the trainees and reiterated CARD’s commitment towards capacity building and rural entrepreneurship.
The session was conducted by SDAO Sanjay Sharma, SMS SDL Manmohan Singh, AEO Ghulam Nabi Malik, Field Assistant Aman Ullaha Malik, Mohammad Iqbal and experts from Agriculture Department.
