FMC India, a leading global agricultural sciences company, hosted a full-day workshop in partnership with the GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (GBPUAT) to celebrate World Bee Day.
Dr Manmohan Singh Chauhan, Vice-Chancellor of the University and a renowned scientist in animal biotechnology inaugurated the day-long program in the presence of Dr AS Nain, Director for Research, GBPUAT, Raju Kapoor, Director, Public & Industry Affairs, FMC India and many other senior dignitaries from the university. In his address, Dr Singh highlighted the immense importance of honeybees, not only for their production of high-quality honey but also for valuable byproducts such as propolis, royal jelly, venom, and wax. He further shared that honeybees can significantly enhance crop productivity, especially in cross-pollinated crops, with a potential increase of up to 200%.
The Department of Entomology and Honeybee Research & Training Centre at the university took charge of hosting the event. Bee-rearing agents from various parts of Uttarakhand attended the program and were recognized alongside students and department research directors. Esteemed scientists and industry experts delivered speeches to impart knowledge and skills related to apiculture to the attendees
Speaking at the event about the bee-rearing industry in india Raju Kapoor said, Bee rearing is at the cusp of change in our country with India’s National Beekeeping and Honey Mission. FMC is grateful to be contributing to a project with the scalability and impact of Madhushakti. He also said that FMC “will continue to work towards the enhancement of women’s skills”.
Project Madhushakti is FMC India's flagship program launched in 2022, which aims to empower women farmers in Uttarakhand. The project has trained 750 women as beekeepers and has benefited over 8,000 people in 20 villages. It supports entrepreneurship, sustainable income generation, improved living standards, biodiversity, and higher crop productivity through effective pollination techniques.
Dr AS Nain, the Director of Research at GBPUAT, expressed his pride in the collaboration with FMC India. He emphasized the untapped potential of beekeeping in biodiversity-rich Uttarakhand, particularly as Project Madhushakti expands. Through scientific beekeeping, the highlands of Uttarakhand can unlock opportunities for job creation and additional income for underprivileged farmers. GBPUAT, in partnership with FMC, is committed to providing training and learning opportunities to establish beekeeping as a profitable field for female entrepreneurs.
FMC Corporation is a global agricultural sciences company that helps farmers produce food, feed, fibre, and fuel while adapting to environmental changes. Their cutting-edge crop protection solutions enable growers to address challenges while safeguarding the environment. With over 6,400 employees worldwide, FMC focuses on developing innovative, environmentally friendly herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides.
