2024-09-21

Izek Abraham Alumkal is eagerly anticipating the upcoming honey harvesting season when he will be able to collect honey from his own hive. He, along with eight other participants, recently attended a one-day apiculture training organized by TIES. This training was part of TIES' capacity-building initiatives and our flagship project, "Bees for Life," which seeks to promote apiculture within the community and highlight its significance in today's world.

Honey bees, often overlooked, play a vital role in pollination and are essential to sustaining our ecosystem. However, they face increasing threats from pollution, which could have serious consequences for both biodiversity and human survival.

Dr. Punnen Kurian, Secretary of TIES, conducted a session titled “Introduction to Apiculture,” where he discussed the biology of honey bees and their importance in the ecosystem. Following this, Mr. Sarath Babu N B, Nature Education Officer at TIES, led a session on “Apiculture Farming,” providing a comprehensive overview of beekeeping practices. He covered topics such as the ecosystem services of honey bees, different types of honey bees found in India, the importance of apiculture, hive management, and the diseases and challenges associated with apiculture. The session also highlighted value-added products, along with the economic and environmental benefits of apiculture. Mr. Sarath Babu engaged participants with practical insights and facilitated interactive discussions to enhance their understanding of the field.

To encourage sustainable apiculture practices, participants were given membership to the TIES Apiculture Club, offering them an interactive platform for ongoing support and learning.