Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept. 1: A two-day training programme on ‘Promotion of Beekeeping, Shifting of Bee Colonies, Bee-box Management, Honey Extraction & Marketing’ under UT-ATMA, Prothrapur and Ferrargunj Blocks was successfully conducted on 31st August and 1st September, 2026 at the Seed Multiplication Farm, Bloomsdale, Chouldari.
The inaugural programme was graced by Shri Durlab Das, Pradhan, Gram Panchayat Guptapara, in the presence of the Dr. S.C Rekha, Assistant Director (Agri), South Andaman, Shri Balram Singh, Chairman, Block Farmer Advisory Committee (BFAC), Ferrargunj Block, along with Agriculture Officers and ATMA staff of Prothrapur and Ferrargunj Blocks. On the occasion, the Assistant Director (Agriculture), South Andaman, highlighted the importance and potential of beekeeping as an additional income-generating activity for farmers, emphasizing the vital role of honeybees in pollination and their contribution to improved crop productivity, quality and farm income.
The main objective of the training was to build the capacity of Farmer Friends in scientific beekeeping practices so that they can subsequently function as resource persons and disseminate the knowledge and techniques gained during the programme to farmers in their respective villages.
In addition to beekeeping, the participants were also sensitized about the availability and functioning of farm machinery through Custom Hiring Centres, including the procedure for hiring farm machinery for agricultural operations. A practical demonstration of a farm-waste shredder was also conducted, wherein the participants were familiarized with its operation and its usefulness in the effective management and recycling of farm waste.
Certificates of participation were distributed to the participants on successful completion of the two-day training programme. A total of 40 participants, including Farmer Friends from Prothrapur and Ferrargunj Blocks, attended the training programme.