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Himachal training beekeepers in ‘artificial queen bee rearing’ to address falling horticultural crop productivity
Solan: To give a fillip to beekeeping and queen bee rearing, and address the issue of low productivity in horticultural crops like apple in Himachal Pradesh, 31 experienced beekeepers from the state underwent a three-week training programme at the Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry (UHF), Nauni.
The training was organized by the UHF’s Department of Entomology under the Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Development Programme, informed Suchet Attri – the Public Relation Officer, UHF.
He said all the participants were experienced beekeepers having colonies of Apis Cerena or Apis Mellifera. They were given training on bee breeding with special reference on queen production. The beekeepers will now undertake artificial mass rearing and queen rearing from their best performing colonies.
The state experiences low productivity and disease instances in honeybees due to the improper queens used to raise new colonies. If the queens are raised from healthy and better performing colonies, the disease incidences will be less and the productivity will also be good,
said Dr Harish Sharma Explaining about the training, senior entomologist and programme coordination.
He added that just like in agriculture and horticulture, good variety seeds and planting material is a prerequisite for a good crop. Similarly, in order to give a boost to beekeeping, a good-mated queen can be used by the beekeepers for raising new colonies and for sale to others.
This will reduce the time for raising good quality and healthy colonies. After this three-week training, most of the beekeepers are eager to undertake queen rearing for themselves and a few are planning to take it up as an entrepreneurial activity by selling queens.
In his address on the final day of the training, Dr JN Sharma, UHF’s Director of Research discussed the vital role played by bees in pollination and in increasing the production and quality of various crops. He also called upon the beekeepers to transform the beekeeping industry in the state. Dr GC Sharma, Head Department of Entomology spoke on the pioneering role played by the department in this field as a result of which the ICAR had rated the All India Coordinated Research Project running at the university as the Best Research and Training Center.
Dr Rajkumar Thakur, Joint Director (Communication) and former ICAR Project Coordinator of AICRP (Honey bees and Pollinators) stressed upon queen production by incorporating desired genes of higher productivity, gentle bee, having disease and mite resistance along with higher egg-laying capacity.
He said that the country needs to have a concrete breeding programme with a centralized database so that the colonies data of all breeders can be made available in a specific portal for effective breeding.
Pollination plays a big role in the production of various horticulture and agricultural crops. The contribution of horticulture to the state economy is quite large and can be increased further. The production of fruits like apple, cherry, pear, strawberry, oilseeds and various vegetable crops are highly dependent on pollination. At present, there are around 80,000 colonies and 1,500 beekeepers in the state.
Various aspects of beekeeping including different castes and life history of honeybees, commercial queen rearing and its equipment, colony selection, climatic and forage conditions required for queen rearing, management of colonies and honey production, pollination requirement of commercial vegetable and horticultural crops and safety of pollinators from pesticides were taken up during the three-week programme.
The participants also got an opportunity to visit PAU Ludhiana and interact with the scientists.
Solan—In a shocking incident on Monday, an 18-year-old youth, Pravesh, survived a vicious leopard attack in Sarli village of Arki subdivision. The teenager reportedly fought the leopard for nearly 12 minutes before breaking its jaw, killing the animal on the spot.
Quick Thinking Saved His Life
Pravesh told the media that he was walking from the fields to a nearby shop in the morning to fetch milk when the leopard, hidden in the crops, lunged at him. Noticing the leopard’s tail, he attempted to run but fell after a short distance. During the attack, he covered his neck with his hands to protect himself from fatal bites.
The teenager continued to struggle with the leopard, repeatedly attempting to put distance between himself and the predator. In a desperate move, he grabbed the leopard by its mouth, twisted its jaw, and broke it, killing the animal instantly. Pravesh sustained multiple injuries, including deep claw marks, and is currently receiving treatment at Arki Hospital. Police and forest department teams have launched an investigation into the incident.
Serious Allegations of HP Forest Department’s Negligence
One of Pravesh’s relatives accused the forest department of negligence, noting that similar attacks had occurred in the area previously.
Earlier, a leopard had attempted to attack a scooter rider, who managed to escape. The family said they had informed the forest department on March 6 about potential danger, but no concrete action was taken. Villagers waited for three hours for a forest team to arrive, but none came. When the Block Officer eventually visited, he reportedly told villagers to ensure their own safety. Requests for cages to capture the leopard were also denied, with officials asking for written complaints instead.
SHIMLA | 7 August 2025 –The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast light to moderate rainfall across Himachal Pradesh over the next two weeks, with isolated heavy to very heavy showers likely over the low hills, plains, and adjoining mid-hill regions. While the ongoing monsoon remains vital for agriculture, it also brings an elevated risk of localized flooding and landslides.
Week of August 8–14
Maximum temperatures will range from 22°C to 34°C, depending on elevation—22°C to 28°C in high hills, 26°C to 30°C in mid-hills, and up to 34°C in lower regions. Minimum temperatures are expected to remain near normal, between 12°C and 24°C. Cooler conditions may persist in districts like Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti.
Week of August 15–21
Similar rainfall patterns are expected to continue, with scattered heavy rain episodes. Temperature trends will remain stable, though slightly below-normal maximum temperatures are likely in parts of Lahaul-Spiti, Mandi, Kangra, and Kullu districts.
Outlook for Late August
Rainfall is expected to remain broadly normal, with region-specific variations. Districts such as Kinnaur, Shimla, and Sirmaur may see below-normal precipitation, while Una, Kangra, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, and Solan are likely to receive above-average rainfall. Both maximum and minimum temperatures are forecast to stay close to seasonal norms.
Officials at the Meteorological Centre in Shimla have urged residents and local authorities to remain alert for sudden heavy downpours, which could disrupt road connectivity and trigger landslides—especially along vulnerable hillside routes. Past monsoon episodes have blocked key highways, including routes between Mandi and Kullu and near Banjar, underscoring the ongoing challenges in the region.
This advisory comes as Himachal Pradesh continues to face the dual pressures of sustaining its agriculture-dependent economy while managing the life and infrastructure risks posed by an active monsoon. Continued vigilance and preparedness remain crucial.
SHIMLA | 7 August 2025 –Himachal Pradesh continues to deal with the impacts of the 2025 monsoon season, reporting extensive property damage, loss of lives, and widespread disruptions across the state. According to the official reports from the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC), the Department of Revenue, and the India Meteorological Department, from June 20 to August 6, 2025, heavy monsoon rains caused significant damage across multiple districts:
- Casualties: 199 deaths due to landslides, flash floods, cloudbursts, drowning, lightning, electrocution, and accidents; 304 injuries reported.
- Property Loss: Extensive damage to houses (both pucca and kaccha), shops, factories, labor sheds, animal shelters, and substantial crop losses in agriculture and horticulture.
- Public Infrastructure: Over ₹1,900 crore in damages to roads (including PWD), power supply, health, education, fisheries, rural and urban development, and animal husbandry.
Most affected districts include Mandi, Kangra, and Hamirpur, with severe crop and infrastructure losses.
Additionally, 91 deaths occurred due to monsoon-related road accidents.
Public Utilities and Infrastructure Disruptions
The SEOC report dated August 7, 2025, highlights ongoing disruptions:
- Roads Blocked: About 493 major roads and 3 national highways (NH-305, NH-21, NH-05) remain blocked by landslides and floods.
- Power Supply: Disruption of 1,120 distribution transformers (DTRs).
- Water Supply: 245 water schemes affected, threatening access to potable water for communities.
Key blockages include NH-21 between Mandi and Kullu and NH-305 near Banjar and Jhed.
Weather Forecast and Warnings
The India Meteorological Department’s forecast valid from August 7, 2025, includes:
- Isolated heavy rainfall expected throughout the week.
- Thunderstorms and lightning predicted in isolated areas.
- Minimum temperatures near normal or slightly below.
- Maximum temperatures showing a moderate increase.
The public is urged to remain vigilant due to the risks of further landslides and flash floods.
Himachal Pradesh remains vulnerable as the monsoon season continues, with thousands affected by damage, displacement, and disruption of essential services. Authorities are continuing with rescue and recovery operations and are urging residents to stay alert to the ongoing adverse weather. This situation highlights the pressing need for enhanced infrastructure and disaster management strategies to mitigate monsoon-related risks.
Himachal’s LPG Supply Hit Amid Global Tensions, Likely to Affect Hospitality Industry
Himachal Teen Survives 12-Minute Leopard Attack, Kills Predator in Self-Defense
Weather Forecast for Himachal Pradesh For the Next Two Weeks
Monsoon 2025: Himachal Pradesh Suffers 199 Casualties, Over ₹1,905.50 Cr in Damages
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