from Wilson D’Souza
for Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SM)
 
Mangalore, Sep 20: The Canara Organization for Development and Peace organized Bee-Keeping workshop in collaboration with HORTI-CROP, Trivendrum and Kasargod Rural Development Society, Kolichal at Manjeshwar Church premises near here recently.
 
Onil D'Souza, director, CODP presided over the function..Fr Herald Mascrenhas, parish priest, Manjeshwar Parish was the chief guest.

Delivering the key-note address Fr Onil D’Souza said "We have never thought of bees being useful. But we need to learn more about bees and their biology. Bees are the greatest pollinators. We are very dependant on them.”

He further said that landless and poor farmers in remote mountain areas locate bee colonies in the forest areas and own, protect and exploit them. In this way they harvest small amount of honey without disturbing bee colonies and allowing them to produce swarms, he informed.

This practice of hunting carina honey besides conserving bee colonies helps very poor and marginalized people to make their part of livelihoods. “Beekeeping coupled with horticulture is of great economic value and must be encouraged.” Of late it has been recognised that it has the potential to develop as a prime agri-horticultural and forest-based industry. Honey production is a lucrative business and it generates employment, said Fr Onil.
 
Sujan Crasta, coordinator, proposed the vote of thanks.

BV Rajan, Ex-Panchyat member, Prabhakar Chowta, Zilla Panchayat member, M J Kini, vice-president, Manjeshwar Gram Panchayat, Prof PG Ravindranath, director HORTI-CROP, B Sunil, assistant manager HORTI-CROP, Charles Mathew, president, Kasargod Rural Development Society were present on the occasion.