Breeding of high-yielding and pest-resistant honeybees is essential to enhance the yield potential of agricultural crops and ensure food safety, according to Dr. D. Alexander, Director of Research, Kerala Agricultural University.Delivering the inaugural address at the second half-yearly review meeting of a network project titled ‘Morphometry and Phylogeography of honeybees and stingless bees in India’ promoted by the Department of Biotechnology, he underlined the potential of advanced biotechnological tools in developing better varieties of honeybees. Experts participating in the three-day event stressed the importance of beekeeping and pollination. Dr. Alexander said that insects, especially honeybees, were responsible for pollinating 80 per cent of crop plants. “A catastrophic outbreak of Thai Sacbrood Disease (TSBV) in South India ruined the beekeeping industry, destroying 95 per cent of the existing honeybee colonies. The industry is keeping its hopes pinned on the development of TSBV- tolerant strain of Indian honeybee colonies from the surviving bee population through selective breeding. The College of Agriculture, Vellayani, has taken up the challenge under the All India co-ordinated Research Project on Honeybees and Pollinators,” he said.
The Hindu, 26th August 2009
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