Nauni varsity’s honeybee centre conferred with best centre award

The All-India Coordinated Research Project on Honey Bees & Pollinators (AICRP HB&P) being executed by the Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, has bagged the Best AICRP Research Centre award in its field nationally. This prestigious recognition was presented at the Annual Group Meeting of the AICRP held recently at Palampur.

The meeting, chaired by Dr TR Sharma, ICAR Deputy Director-General (Crop Science), and Dr Poonam Jasrotia, Assistant Director-General (Plant Protection and Biosecurity), featured presentations from all 25 AICRP centers across the country, showcasing their research work for 2023-24. The event was attended by project coordinator Dr Sachin Suroshe from the IARI, New Delhi, subject experts and scientists from all AICRP centres from across the country.

The Solan centre conducted significant studies on honeybee pollination in key medicinal crops such as chamomile, linseed, tulsi and glory lily, as well as in fruit crops like pear in Kalpa, Kinnaur. Their findings demonstrated that bee pollination significantly enhances yield and other economically important parameters.

Additionally, the centre explored the use of honeybees in natural farming systems, finding it effective for improving seed yield, seedling growth and germination rates in onion and sunflower compared to conventional farming methods. The centre is also engaged in selective breeding of Apis mellifera L. for increased royal jelly production and has been working on developing rearing technology for bumblebees.

Prof Rajeshwar Singh Chandel, Vice-Chancellor, congratulated the AICRP team, led by project investigator Dr Kiran Rana and Co-PI Dr Meena Thakur, along with Dr Subhash Verma, head of the Department of Entomology. He praised their efforts in promoting managed beekeeping in the state and advancing research in various aspects of apiculture.

He emphasised the critical role of pollination in enhancing agricultural productivity and commended the centre for consistently being ranked among the best centres in the country.

Director Research Dr Sanjeev Chauhan, Dean of Horticulture Dr Manish Sharma and other statutory officers also lauded the efforts of the scientists.