Indo-Israel team explores collaboration in bumblebee rearing

An Indo-Israel team recently visited Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry (UHF), Nauni to explore the possibility of collaboration in the field of bumblebee rearing. The team was led by Dan Alluf, Counsellor of Israel Agency for International Development Cooperation (MASHAV), Israel Embassy and included Chaim Efrat, beekeeping expert from Israel and Dr Billu Yadav, Deputy Director Horticulture, Ramnagar.

The team interacted with the university officials and scientists from the Department of Entomology. During the meeting, the scientists and the experts underlined the importance of beekeeping as an important development tool to ensure food security and sustainable development, which not only empowers farmers but also boosts local and national economies. The objective of this project is to serve the farming community and increase the horticulture production, especially under protected cultivation through pollination support of bumble bees.

Dr JN Sharma, Director Research of the University welcomed all the delegates and shared the important research achievements of the university including in the field of apiculture and bumble bee rearing. Dan Alluf discussed the Indo-Israel Agriculture Project and hoped for a long-term association in the field. He informed that over 25 centres of excellence in India have already been supported under the project and another is proposed in Himachal Pradesh. An Integrated Beekeeping Development Centre has also been established in Ram Nagar in Haryana under this project.

While appreciating the efforts undertaken in the field of managed honeybee pollination, Vice-Chancellor Dr HC Sharma stressed on the need to include professionals from the industry to develop bumble bee rearing on a commercial scale. He said that besides temperate fruits, the state has good growing conditions for sub-tropical fruits (orange and mango) and vegetables as well.

Dr Harish Sharma, Professor in the Department of Entomology, talked about the status of research in bumblebee rearing and its utilization in pollination in the university. He shed light on the various problems being faced for commercial bumble-bee rearing.