As an important initiative under the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA), the School of Agriculture (SOA), Uttaranchal University, celebrated the 80th Independence Day with women farmers of Kotra Santaur on 15th August 2026.
On this occasion, the national flag was hoisted by Shri Vikas Joshi Ji, Gram Pradhan of the village. He extended greetings to all villagers on this auspicious day and expressed his well wishes for rural development and prosperity. Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Director, SOA, also congratulated the gathering and briefed them about the project funded by Unnat Bharat Abhiyan “Developing an Experiential Learning Program (ELP) in Beekeeping for Agriculture Students and aligning it to create a Sustainable Livelihood Model for the Women Farmers of Kotra Santaur Village” and encouraged for the active participation of women farmers. He highlighted that Uttaranchal University would support the establishment of an apiary and provide technical expertise in beekeeping and honey production.
Dr. Mohsin Ikram, Assistant Professor, SOA, explained to the farmers that Apis mellifera (honeybee) is a nonaggressive bee, yields higher quantities of honey and other high demanding products like royal jelly, propolis, and bee wax when managed in apiaries near forestland or village settings. He added that this bee species adapts well to diverse climates and contribute to the pollination of a wide range of crops significantly. The students of School of Agriculture, Ms. Neha Pandey and Mr. Divanshu Kumar also interacted with the women farmers and discussed on cultivation of commercial flower and traditional beekeeping practices.
The programme concluded with the distribution of sweets and mutual greetings for Independence Day. This community participation reflected the commitment of Uttaranchal University and the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan towards individual, social, rural, and national development.
