COUPLE ENGAGED IN BEE KEEPING FOR MORE THAN 15 YEARS
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| Thomas and Mercy, Chittarikkalil, Kasaragod |
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A sweetened dream: that is story of the bee keeping activity of Thomas and Mercy, Chittarikkalil, Kasaragod. For more than 15 years now, they have been engaged in bee keeping through thick and thin.
The couple started with indigenous variety of bees in 1981 and was able to bring up 250 colonies of bees by 1991. As they were trying to expand the number of hives, a virus wiped out the whole colonies. For the crestfallen couple, the Malanad Development Agency, Kanjirappally gave hope and confidence to continue.
With the Italian bees supplied by the agency, they started the work afresh. Today the farm is again full of bee hives. Almost 10 new colonies are formed everyday. They sell about 10 quintals of honey a year. An additional income is from the manufacture and sale of boxes for bees. Their ‘Golden Bee Box and Bee Farm’ is the product of more than 15 years of toil in this field.
The couple looks after the bees like their own children. Thomas, wife and the 2 children are always alert to the needs of the winged honey-providers.
Thomas is a faculty member for 3 agencies and imparts training in bee keeping. Mercy too engages classes during 1-day seminars. In 1996, Thomas was a special invitee at the honey maker’s conference held in Punjab. He took part in the recent national conference held in Darwas, Karnataka in 1998 also.
The couple is now planning to set up a honey processing unit.
Courtesy: Rajesh Thillankery, Karshakan, July 1999
Contributed by: Administrator
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