AGRICULTURE

Monsoon hard time for bee farmers
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 5
The monsoon season may have brought relief from scorching heat for urban population but for bee farmers this season means taking extra care of the colonies, failing which many colonies perish causing losses to the farmers.

According to experts at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), monsoon is a very hard time for bees. Various factors like scarcity of bee flora, prevalence of cloudy weather and continuous rains and inability of bees to forage to collect sufficient food reserves pose threat to bee colonies.

To tide over the difficult period, experts suggest management of honey bees during this season on a larger scale. In a research paper, Dr T.P. Singh, Dr G.S. Gatoria and Dr B.S. Sidhu, experts at the Department of Entomology at PAU, have suggested that various operations, including cleaning, ventilation, feeding and protecting the colonies from various insect pests and robber bees, can effectively check the fall in population rate of the bees, commonly witnessed by farmers of the region.

The suggestions on the management of the colonies have also been included in Progressive Farming, a monthly journal published by the university. The experts suggest that the bottom board of the colonies should be cleaned more often to prevent the attack of wax moth larvae which grow on the bottom board.

Hot weather accompanied by rains cause humid conditions in the colonies. These should be ventilated by opening the colony gate completely and providing additional chamber in the super chamber. Experts say that due to paucity of nectar and rainy weather, bees cannot collect food from outside, so it becomes mandatory to provide food to them. Thick sugar syrups in can-type feeders and polythene envelopes can be kept near the colonies during evenings.

Weaker colonies face threat from the Robber Bees which steal honey from weaker colonies. Paucity of food reserves often leads to robbing of nearby colonies during monsoon season. Sometimes stronger bees kill the queen bee of the weaker colony and such colonies perish very soon.

To avoid the robbing of colonies, the experts suggest that cracks and crevices of the hive should be plugged during monsoons and the entrance should be narrowed down to a single bee space. Weak colonies should be united with strong colonies.

The experts further suggest that the colonies should be protected from wax moth which spoils the wax frame. It attacks during July and October . The yellow banded brown wasp causes maximum damage to the bee colonies in planes. These can be controlled by burning its nests with kerosene and spraying recommended insecticides.

The bee-eating birds also attack colonies on sunny days after rains. A green bee-eater eats up to 50 bees in a day. King crows also cause damage to the bees . Experts recommend scaring these birds by using air guns and reflecting tapes.

CULTURE

Bhangra team hit at Lithuania international festivals
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 5
Bhangra by the artists of the Punjab Cultural Promotion Council was the cynosure of all eyes during two international festivals held recently in Lithuania .

Directed and choreographed by Davinder Singh Chhina, a 13-member troupe from Punjab delighted and enthralled people in Lithuania at Visaganis, Moletai, Slovencionys, Ignalina, Anickshy, Utena and Zarasai with traditional folk dances, boliyans and bhangra.

The troupe members included Bhupinder Singh Vickey, Jassa Sekhon, Gurcharan, Gurprit Saini, Parminder Nona, Bansi Lal Dholu, Parveen Gupta (manager), Sneh Lata, Harinder Kaur, Jaspal Singh and Gurwinder Singh and Jasgbir Bajwa (singer).

Members of the troupe performed bhangra, Malvai gidha, jhoomer, jindna and other folk dances in seven cities across Lithuania. The troupe also performed in Lingodanla International folk Festival which was held in Kupiskis. In the town square of Kupiskis, people demanded repeat of bhangra performance for their entertainment.

In Alizara, a rural area of Lithuania, the team was received in the traditional Lithuanian style. It was given a warm welcome and was presented with traditional Lithuanian food and special Lithuanian cake.

The Mayor of Kupiskis was all praise for the Punjabi troupe and Indian culture.

Cultural troupes from Hungary, Poland, Russian Federation, Latvia, Lithuania Yugoslavia, France, Ulraine Mabow, Morocco also participated in two international folk dance festivals and presented thrilling dances.

“The main aim of the council is to strengthen peace and friendship among different countries and to promote international understanding, particularly in the field of folk art and folk culture,” said Chhina.

Baba Farid Foundation releases books
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, August 5
Dr Tara Singh Alam’s three books in Shah Mukhi Lipi, “Tiraye Samundar, Uchalda Samundar and Ek Muthi Aasmaan” were released by the Mayor, Mr Apinder Singh Grewal, at a function organised by the Baba Farid Foundation yesterday. While releasing these books, Mr Grewal said the universal brotherhood can only be achieved by the powerful writings. He said Dr Tara Singh has transcended the boundaries of nations and has used Punjabi poetry for goodness of people. For this reason, these books were published in Pakistan.

Though the world is big, yet in the imagination of writers it is very small. He further said that Municipal Corporation intends to build a huge library in which besides books, Punjabi music and works of art will be displayed too. This library will be fully computerised.

Dr Sukhdev Singh of Panjab University said Alam’s poetry deals with human problems. Jaswant Singh Chappa, president Baba Farid Foundation, said his poetry will benefit the mankind. The Punjab Arts Council vice-chairman, Dr Surjit Patar, said the three books by Tara Singh was an ‘historic event’. Tara Singh’s poetry has encompassed the whole universe, Kulwant Jagraon said.

Among others present on the occasion were Mr Harjit Singh Grewal, PPCC Labour and Employment Cell, President Krishan Kumar Bawa, All-India Youth Congress State Unit president, Pawan Dewan, Sukhwinder Singh Grewal, Balwinder Sandhu and Pritam Singh Baronwal.