Latest news with #Apiscerana
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
World Bee Day: In the hum of bees lies the pulse of progress
1 2 3 Nagpur: Bees are quietly shaping the future of agriculture and forestry, a fact underscored by Suresh Gudhe , a retired joint director and beekeeping expert from the Khadi and Village Industries Commission, Nagpur. "Bees are indispensable for forest and agricultural development," Gudhe asserts, emphasising their role in pollination , which drives fruit and seed formation, enabling new plant growth. Without effective pollination, he warns, "Even forest departments struggle to achieve desired plant regeneration." On World Bee Day , celebrated on May 20, Gudhe, a trainer in beekeeping, highlighted the diversity of bees in India, from the robust rock bee (Apis dorsata), which yields up to 30kg of honey annually, to the delicate stingless bee (Trigona), a pollination powerhouse. Each species, whether the Indian hive bee (Apis cerana indica), little bee (Apis florea), or the foreign Apis mellifera, contributes uniquely to ecosystems. "Bees don't just produce honey," Gudhe explains, adding, "They ensure biodiversity , supporting crops and forests through pollination." The benefits of beekeeping extend beyond ecology. Gudhe points to economic opportunities, with products like honey, beeswax, pollen, royal jelly, and propolis commanding global demand. "Pollen is as vital as honey, packed with nutrients," he notes, adding that bee venom and royal jelly are used in pharmaceuticals, while propolis offers antibacterial properties. For rural communities, beekeeping is a pathway to self-reliance, supported by government schemes like PMEGP and Honey Mission, which provide training and financial aid. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Launch - Birla Navya on Golf Course Road Extn, Gurugram Birla Navya AVIK Click Here Undo "Beekeeping can transform lives and bolster India's economy," Gudhe says. Yet, challenges loom. Industrialisation threatens environmental balance, and Gudhe stresses the need for planting nectar-rich trees to sustain bee populations. "Conserving bees is conserving life," he urges, echoing Albert Einstein's warning that humanity's survival hinges on bees. Community-driven afforestation, involving schools, NGOs, and forest departments, is vital, but Gudhe insists on prioritising bee-friendly plants. Gudhe's call to action resonates: "Everyone must protect beehives in their surroundings." His vision blends science, tradition, and sustainability, positioning beekeeping as a cornerstone of environmental and economic progress. Through collective effort, India can harness the power of these tiny pollinators to secure a greener, more prosperous future. By embracing beekeeping, we not only safeguard nature but also empower communities, proving that in the hum of bees lies the pulse of progress.
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
State insect to heritage sites, Karnataka government dragging feet over major announcements, say activists
Bengaluru: Nearly five years after experts and multiple departments rallied behind declaring the ' Tudave honeybee ' ( Apis cerana ) as Karnataka's official state insect, the govt is yet to act on it. Fuming over the delay, conservationists said the inaction reflected govt apathy toward ecological symbolism and environmental priorities. Karnataka Biodiversity Board (KAB) had recommended to the forest dept in 2020-21 to declare the Tudave honeybee as the state insect after backing from the home and horticulture depts. Green activists and conservationists, led by former KAB chairperson Ananth Hegade Ashisara, met forest, environment and ecology minister Eshwar Khandre last week and sought immediate announcement on these long pending proposals. "It's baffling. The scientific community, the board, and even the then CM BS Yediyurappa had responded positively to the recommendation. And yet, here we are — no formal announcement even after five years," said Ashisara. The proposal to recognise Apis cerana, a native and ecologically vital honeybee species, had the unanimous support of a committee that included experts from Indian Institute of Science (IISc), entomologists from University of Agricultural Sciences, and officials from the horticulture department. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Click Here - This Might Save You From Losing Money Expertinspector Click Here Undo Often referred to as Asian honey bee, Tudave honeybee is native to south, southeast Asia and is considered as one of the important pollinators, helping in better agricultural yields, besides enhancing forest cover. A state insect tag was also expected to safeguard these honeybees, threatened by various factors. "It is not just the honey bee, which is awaiting official tag but also several fish conservation sites across Karnataka. 11 fish conservation sites were identified, and five years ago, another 15 such sites were identified along the Western Ghats for formal notification, and nothing has been done to date," Ashisara told TOI soon after submitting the memorandum to the minister. He said despite the Biodiversity Act being a powerful weapon to crack down on unregulated exploitation of natural resources, no cases have been registered in the state under the Act. The group also reminded the govt to publish details of the report, prepared by senior IFS officers VV Singh and RK Singh, on trees endemic to Karnataka forests that are on the verge of extinction. Recalling that Karnataka was the first state to declare four sites as biodiversity heritage sites, Ashisara said, "In 2021-22, the board proposed 12 such heritage sites in Malnad, coastal, and North Karnataka regions, including Adinarayana Betta, Antaragange Betta, Sita Ashoka Vana at Sagar Barur, and Kattale Kaanu near Jog Falls. But none of them have been declared as heritage sites to date. In fact, our scientific report on frequent landslides and the carrying capacity of the ecologically fragile Uttara Kannada district is gathering dust in the board. "
