All about the National Bee Day

To celebrate the importance and irreplaceable role bees have in our lives and our food supply as pollinators, Under The Mango Tree decided to observe February 5th as National Bee day or Cerana day.
 
The Apis cerana indica- our indigenous bee – is found in nature across India and is an excellent pollinator. In beekeeping however, it has a secondary status with focus given to the hybrid Apis mellifera. However, the A cerana is more suited to the small Indian farmer as it is available in nature and plays a crucial role in increasing productivity of small farms.
 
Under The Mango Tree’s National Bee day or Cerana Day celebrated bees and their role in our lives and the environment…on February 5th at Maharashtra Nature Park, Dharavi. This is also the site where we run India’s first Urban beekeeping initiative.
 
It was a fun day for the entire family: with bee walks, painting competitions, cooking with Honey with Executive Chef Rajeev Basak of Bungalow 9 and Chef Rajat Nagpal of MasterChef India, interactions with India’s first group of urban beekeepers “Mumbai Bees” and launch of our research study on the ‘Role of Honeybees in Pollination” with Mrs. Usha Thorat, Vikram Doctor and others.

Mumbai Bees: An Urban Beekeeping Initiative

UTMT launched India’s first Urban Beekeeping Initiative at the Maharashtra Nature Park in Mumbai in August 2011. The program provides urban residents a hands-on conn

ection to nature, raises awareness about the essential role of pollinators in urban biodiversity, and gives participants with a personal source of honey. Activities include an Urban Beekeeping Training Program, as well as public educational events such as bee walks and movie screenings. UTMT is collaborating with Maharashtra Nature Park and BNHS Conservation Education Centre. We currently have five bee hives installed in Maharashtra Nature Park.
For more information contact: mumbaibees@underthemangotree.org