The Maharashtra Beekeeping Department has urged beekeepers to take advantage of the opportunity to produce medicinally reliable honey this season in the form of the Ixiocephala species, which blooms once in eight years in the hill town of Mahabaleshwar.
“Vyati plant blooms once in eight years. This year, Mahabaleshwar and surrounding areas have bloomed in large numbers, enriching the biodiversity. The flowering season lasts till January and the blossoms help produce excellent quality honey,” said Dr Patil, former director, State Directorate of Beekeeping.
The flowers are white and like all kinds of bees, he said. Honey is made from nectar while pollen is used as food for crops.”
The honey produced from Vyati is light yellow in color, Patil said that the medicinal value of the honey produced is high and the demand for it is also high. “It helps increase energy and is used to strengthen muscles,” said Patil.
Kas Plateau, Koyna Valley and Kandati area around Mahabaleshwar are blooming now.
Maharashtra State Khadi and Village Industries Board (MSKVIB) chairman Ravindra Sathe, who runs the Directorate of Beekeeping, said that Vyati is a rare plant found only in the forest area around Mahabaleshwar, so honey can be produced from its flowers. area only.
“We are asking beekeepers to set up bee colonies and collect as much honey as possible. MSKVIB has also planned to brand Vyati flower honey for marketing,’ he said. Therefore, beekeepers are advised to place beekeeping boxes near flowers and to purchase combi foundation from beekeeping department for frames for bee colonies.
“This season is good for beekeepers as the plants of Vyati species are blooming in the hilly areas now. Proper management of bee colonies will help ensure good honey production,” said Raghunath Narayankar, Director, Maharashtra Directorate of Beekeeping.
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