LA TRINIDAD – Benguet State University (BSU) College of Forestry promotes the beekeeping industry through a three-day free Training program for those who want to learn to raise bees and start honey ventures from April 3-5, 2024, at the Cordillera Regional Apiculture Center (CRAC).
As stated by the CRAC Director, Kenneth Laruan, it is part of their mission, goals, and objectives to promote the beekeeping industry in the locality through offering training to develop skills and manpower in the beekeeping field or apiary agriculture.
Laruan also added that if the participants do not become beekeepers, the center will encourage them to be part of its advocacy for conserving bees because bees are crucial pollinators.
Meanwhile, Anna Backong, one of the attendees in the training program, shared her thoughts on beekeeping.
“Isa akong farmer, diba? Yung honey [bee] daw is pollinator ng mga plants. Kaya ganun na parang gusto ko rin, kahit isang box o dalawang box man lang napag-umpisahan na makaproduce ng honey. Tsaka para maexperience natin kung talagang yung mga bees eh makakatulong sa mga halaman natin.”
[I am a farmer, right? They say that a honey bee is a pollinator of plants. That’s why I kind of want to start producing honey, even if it’s just one box or two to start with. And also, to experience if indeed the bees can help our plants.]
It was also the same with Sergio Tulas, a former OFW, who wanted to begin the honey venture.
“Nakiseminar ako kasi wala akong knowledge sa beekeeping, so it starts there. Tsaka gusto ko mapollinate yung mga pananim ng mga magulang ko based on that knowledge. Siguro para matuto rin, kaya nakisali ako sa seminar. At gusto ko rin matuto to produce honey din po for my families, neighbors.”
[“I attended the seminar because I have no knowledge of beekeeping, so it starts there. And I also want to pollinate my parents’ crops based on that knowledge. Maybe to learn as well, so I joined the seminar. And I also want to learn to produce honey for my families, neighbors.”]
The free beekeeping training had lectures about the introduction to beekeeping, the biology of honeybees, and the basic tools and equipment for beekeeping.
There were also video presentations and hands-on and demonstration activities outside the apiary, like processing honey products, hive management, and conservation of honeybees.
By the end of the training program, the attendees received a certificate which they can use to apply for jobs abroad or to establish their own apiary.
~Bonomar Apuyod Jr.~
