Bee keepers oppose import of new stock

Punjab-based bee farmers have urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to ban the import of honey bees, as they could carry contagious disease and destroy the domestic bee-keeping industry.

The Progressive Bee Keepers' Association of Punjab has protested against imported honey bees because they could pose serious threat to output of honey by spreading dangerous diseases among the country's honey bees.

"If the import of new races of honey bees were allowed there will always be a danger of introduction of new diseases such as 'American Foul Brood' or 'Apis Mellifera Adansonii' also known as killer bee. It could ruin the country's apiculture," Progressive Bee Keepers Association President Gagandeep Singh said.

"The ministry of agriculture is keen to allow the import of queen bee and a decision in this regard has already been taken in a meeting on regulating the import," Singh said.

"Illegal import of stocks from neighbouring countries this year had resulted in the spread of 'Varroa Mite' that ruined almost 25 per cent of honey production," he said.