Media Release
Mangaluru, Mar 26: St Agnes Centre for Post Graduate Studies and Research, department of English in association with Sahara Gramudyog Sansthan (A member Society of the National Bee Board, government of India) inaugurated a two-day workshop on ‘Scientific Bee Keeping’ on March 18 in the PG Auditorium of St Agnes College (Autonomous).
The workshop began with an invocation. Dr Geralyn Pinto, head of department, PG department of English, St Agnes College (Autonomous) and convener of the workshop welcomed the gathering and introduced the keynote speaker. She also expressed her joy and curiosity to know the impacts bees have in our daily lives. She also expressed her concerns about the condition of our environment. Bringing her subject of interest and expertise, that is English literature, she added how literature through various writers has expressed its concerns and has drawn attention to crucial issues of the environment quoting William Wordsworth, a 19th century poet from England. She then welcomed Dr A A Fazal (Professor, Head Faculty of Food Science and Technology, College of Agriculture, Hassan) to speak.
Dr A A Fazal (Professor, Head Faculty of Food Science and Technology, College of Agriculture, Hassan) served as the Inaugurator of the workshop. He also delivered the keynote address. He threw light on the importance of pollination that bees indulge in. The environment to flourish is dependent upon pollination. The flowers that we see, the fruits that we consume, even the rice we eat isbecause of pollination. He also stressed on the impact of Bees and how one could consider Beekeeping as an alternate career. His talk was thought-provoking.He also emphasized on the un-scientific methods used by people to extract honey from the hives which results in the death of thousands of bees that inhabit the hive and the scientific methods one could use for the same without harming these creatures.
The resource person of the day Yogendra Punia, president, Sahara Gramudyog Sansthan (A Member Society of the National Bee Board, government of India) through his talk during the inaugural emphasized on the commercial benefits of Beekeeping along with the positive environmental outcomes of the same. Yogendra Punia also took up the later sessions for the day which aimed to enlighten the audience about the life cycle of a bee, the various equipments used in the process of honey extraction. He also made a special mention of ‘Apitherapy’ that uses bee venom to cure a number of diseases.
The chief guest of the workshop, Sr Dr Jeswina, principal, St Agnes College (Autonomous), Mangaluru expressed her pride and support to the Post Graduate Department of English for conducting workshops that isn’t confined to the field of literature alone. She also pointed out the interests the Department has taken in green initiative programmes and its concern towards environment conservation.
The vote of thanks was delivered by Ponnappa C P, student convener of the workshop. The inaugural was compered by Jazeela of the IMA.
The second day of the workshop included a practical training session to the participants on honey extraction using the equipments which are affordable. It has been observed that the manufacturing of honey through these methods is cheap, sustainable and highly profitable. This could be considered a career option.