ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) and Capital Development Authority (CDA) Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aiming at producing high quality honey from Margalla hills. The MoU was signed by Secretary PARC, Muhammad Tariq and Member Administration CDA, Amer Ali Ahmed at CDA headquarters here.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Member Coordination PARC, Dr. Muhammad Munir, PARC directors, Sardar Ghulam Mustafa, Dr. Rashid Mahmood, Falak Naz and Deputy Director General (Environment) CDA, Iftikhar Awan, Director Staff to Chairman CDA, Ejaz Ahmed Bajwa, Director (PR) Ramzan Sajjid and other senior officers of both the organizations.
The MoU will facilitate production of branded honey from Margalla hills and queens from apis mellifera colonies besides building capacity of Margalla community in beekeeping and developing network of hone producers. The branded honey of Margalla will be sold through PARC Agro Tech Company and would be provided to CDA on the same rates as given to PARC and National Agriculture Research Council (NARC) employees.
Both the organization agreed to arrange demonstration apiary at Margalla hills for community to raise the awareness of beekeeping for quality honey production and free pollination services of bees to enhance quality and quantity of fruits, vegetables and biodiversity conservation.
According to MoU, CDA will provide the space for placement of honeybee colonies of Acacia (phauli) Granda, Bhaikar etc at Margalla hills and will also ensure that no other beekeeper is given permission to operate in radius of five kilometer.
The MoU will remain operative for five years while both the parties will appoint focal person to manage periodic meetings to work out the details of the programme and its implementation.
INP