Keeper of bees

Hisar, January 27

Prof Ram Chander Sihag, who has been selected for the Padma Shri award, has made remarkable contributions in the field of beekeeping in the country.

Prof Sihag, a retired agriculture scientist, began his career with Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, in 1979. Later, he went on to occupy the post of the Dean of the College of Basic Sciences and Humanities. He retired from the HAU in 2012 as head of the Zoology Department.

Dr Sihag said he had helped about one lakh persons to generate self-employment in beekeeping. The number of bee colonies had grown from 5,000 in 1980 to 30 lakh in the country. The occupation had contributed Rs 200 billion a year in the GDP, he said.