Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: Don Bosco Vocational Training Institute (DBVTI), Quepem, associated with the Khadi and Village Industries Board (KVIB), Panjim, recently conducted another beekeeping course. Approximately 23 individuals from various parts of Goa enthusiastically participated in this day-long offline seminar held at the DBVTI premises, Quepem, on Saturday, April 23, for a nominal fee of Rs 400.
An experienced apiculturist, P Shaliyo, educated and trained the participants on how to handle the bees, besides providing them valuable knowledge about the different seasons, flowering plants, the feeding and maintenance of the bees during the monsoons.
The DBVTI, Quepem director Fr Michael D’Costa, who initiated this beekeeping course to motivate people to become self-employed, further informed that “Initially it was difficult to motivate people to join the course as people had a fear of being stung by the bees. In October 2020, DBVTI conducted the first course, and following its success, another 12 such seminars were organised in association with the KVIB, Panjim.
A total of 340 participants from the North and South Goa have participated in this programme due to the frequent and comprehensive promotion made by DBVTI through its Facebook page, creating awareness with several people expressing interest in joining it.
Several participants have taken this course seriously and harvested a reasonable amount of honey on their first attempt,” disclosed Fr D’Costa.
“The objectives behind this course is to motivate people to become self-employed, particularly in view of the ongoing pandemic devastatinag the world with people losing their jobs and waiting patiently to regain employment. As long as there are individuals keenly interested in this course, DBVTI will continue to conduct this beekeeping course,” divulged Fr D’Costa.