JK Govt steps in to rehab disease-hit bee-keeping industry

Srinagar, July 30 (UNI) Concerned over the outbreak of fatal disease known as '' vorroa'', the Jammu and Kashmir Government has formulated a contingent plan for rehabilitation of bee-keeping industry which has suffered heavily due the disease.

An official spokesman told UNI that the contingent plan involving Rs 65 lakh has been submitted to the Planning department for approval to save 11,431 bee-colonies in Kashmir. A similar bee keeping rehabilitation plan for Jammu division will also be prepared shortly which includes both long term and short term measures.

Valley produced several hundred metric tonnes of honey, which also reaches to English tables.

Human interest in honey is pre-historic and in some parts of the world it dates back to 2500 BC while in India honey and honey bee finds mention in Rigveda but organised production has been practiced only recently.

However, Kashmir has a unique distinction of having organised bee keeping, dating back to 14th century AD, and has the striking similarities with countries in Mediterranean, West Asia and North African region.

According to reports the honey harvesting in the Valley partly resembles that of Egypt and Greece.

But unfortunately, indiscriminate use of pesticides during flowering and lack of improved technologies the bee-keeping has been affected.

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