MLA Banihal flags off delegation of 20 beekeepers on agricultural exposure tour
Banihal, Novr 2: Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Banihal, Sajjad Shaheen, flagged off a delegation of 20 progressive bee keepers from the Banihal constituency for a five-day agricultural exposure tour to Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana.
The tour, organised by the Agriculture Department, aims to promote modern and scientific practices in apiculture and sustainable agriculture. During the visit, the farmers will undergo in-house training sessions conducted by agricultural scientists and apiculture experts to enhance their skills in modern beekeeping, honey extraction, quality control, and marketing techniques.
Speaking on the occasion, Shaheen said that such initiatives play a vital role in strengthening the rural economy by equipping farmers with the latest knowledge and scientific methods to improve productivity and income. “Beekeeping has emerged as a promising source of livelihood for many families in Banihal and adjoining areas. Over 500 families in the constituency are directly associated with honey production, and there is tremendous potential to expand this sector further,” Shaheen said.
He added that promoting honey farming through scientific training and modern techniques will not only boost production but also enhance the quality and market value of honey from the region. He urged the Agriculture Department to continue supporting local farmers through exposure visits, capacity-building workshops, and financial assistance under government schemes.
Shaheen appreciated the efforts of the Agriculture Department for organizing the tour and assured his full support for further initiatives aimed at improving income-generating avenues for farmers.
The participating bee keepers expressed gratitude to the MLA and the department for facilitating this learning opportunity and pledged to share their newly acquired knowledge with other farmers to strengthen the honey sector in District Ramban.
Later, the MLA convened a review meeting with officers of the PHE, PWD, and PMGSY departments and emphasized the need to expedite the tendering process for all works approved under the UT Capex and other schemes so that the projects could be taken up at the earliest. The Executive Engineers of PWD, PMGSY, and PHE, besides the Chief Agriculture Officer Ramban, were present in the meeting.
Shaheen was accompanied by DDC Councillor Fayaz Naik, Block President Haji Abdul Ahad Shan, and party colleagues Munir Ahmed Bhat, Abdul Hamid Khan, Abdul Rashid Malik, Aijaz Ahmed Bhat, Rayees Ahmed Khandey, and Abdul Gani Rather, among others.
