Inauguration of Himali Bee Farming Cooperative Society Ltd

Namchi,5th April (IPR): Minister Agriculture & Horticulture Mr. Lok Nath Sharma inaugurated the newly established Bee farm initiated by Himali Bee Farming Co-operative society Ltd at Manghim Rabitar, today.
The programme had the presence of MLA (Melli constituency) Miss. Farwanti Tamang, MLA (Rangang- Yangang Constituency) Miss. Raj Kumari Thapa, Additional Political Secretary to CM Miss. Anjeeta Rajalim, Secretary Agriculture Mr. Ringzing C Bhutia, Secretary Horticulture Mr. B. B. Subba, Principal Director Horticulture Mr. Sadan Tamang, officials, students, farmers and public at large.
The main aim of the bee farm initiative program was to facilitate and encourage the local beneficiaries in the Bee keeping sector and to promote and support the development of the local tribal products in the market.
Addressing, the gathering Minister Mr. Sharma articulated on the scope of bee farming and spoke abouts its profitable marketing opportunities via selling the various range of end products that the farmers can produce. He congratulated the Himali Bee Farming Co-operative Society for adopting bee farming in larger scale for the first time in the history and urged them to be consistent in achieving the targeted goal of the society. He added that the concerned department will provide all technical support and if possible may take up an initiative to install a processing unit for bee farming for further strengthening of honey bee production in Sikkim.
He also announced to consider Sadam Suntaley Gram Panchayat Unit as a PMKSY cluster where numbers of water tank of fifty thousand litres, thirty thousand litres, twenty thousand litres and one thousand litres will be constructed in the GPU. The drip irrigation facilities will also be installed to increase production with optimum utilisation of water resources with the theme of “per drop more crop”.
The Minister further underlined on the need to be motivated towards agriculture and its allied sectors so that one and all can be self reliant. He also expressed the the State Government is dedicated
in making the farmers economically independent.
Highlighting the significance of the recently passed budget for the financial year 2022-23 he said that the State Government has elaborately planned programmes meant for developmental works in the state. He mentioned Bahini Yojana and Aama Yojana, the latters prime objective is to support mothers of underprivileged family with the financial support of rupees 20000/-, annually.
He also touched upon the achievement of 50 MBBS seats allotted for medical students, construction of 3050 houses under Sikkim Garib Awas Yojana, Promotion of Homestay Tourism , Educational Development, Infrastructure development under the leadership of the Chief Minister Shri Prem Singh Tamang.
MLA Farwanti Tamang, in her brief address, congratulated Bee Farming Co-operative Society for the initiative and extended her best wishes. She drew lights on farming potential of her constituency particularly in dairy and poultry farming and shared planning of developmental works including blacktopping, restoration of roads and construction of auditorium hall to be taken up in Melli constituency.
She also shared about the assurances received from the Chief Minister Shri P. S. Tamang on the possibility of establishing Physical Education University in Melli constituency in future.
During the programme Minister Sharma handed over various farming inputs and machinery equipments to the farmers of Melli constituency.
He also handed over “Share Certificate” to the members of cooperative society.
Earlier, Veterinary professionals spoke on the viral infectious disease of African Swine Fever and Porcine Respiratory and Reproductive Syndrome.
PhD Scholar (Horticulture and Apiculture) Dr. Christopher Karki explained the need in equipping, training the bee keeping farmers with modern bee keeping techniques so as to diversify ways of increasing their income.He said that it is important for the farmers to understand the life cycle of bee, its expected disease, ways for insect management of bee, honey extraction methods, bee production and many more.
After the inauguration, Minister Shri Sharma along with the dignitaries visited the farm and enquired the technical aspects of bee keeping and how it is beneficial for the farmers.