The Meghalaya Farmers (Empowerment) Commission, in coordination with the Basic Agriculture Training Centre (BATC), Upper Shillong organised a 5-day intensive training on Bee Venom, Pollen Extraction and Queen Rearing from 27th March – 31st March 2023, at MAMETI, Upper Shillong for Master beekeepers, buckwheat farmers and TREYSEFA graduates. The objective of the training was to catalyse the creation of a cadre of master bee keeping trainers and empower rural educated youth, progressive buckwheat farmers and master beekeepers to establish their own apiculture enterprises in view of the tremendous global demand for hive products while adding to the conservation and multiplication efforts of the local indigenous species. The main resource persons for this training included Dr K. Lakshmi Rao, Bee Scientist, one of India’s best known Meliss palynologist and Shri. K. Subba Rao, scientist and bee breeder, assisted by Shri Frankie Ryntathiang, Deputy Manager, MIE Shillong and Smti. Bame Marbaniang, Executive Assistant, MFEC. The training consisted of classroom sessions followed by intensive hands-on field practicals in local apiaries.
