Be the first to comment!Gozo project launched to increase population of the Maltese Queen Bee
 Email item
|  Print item
|
|
Fields of Diversity is a project that will lead to the conservation of native Maltese trees and to increase the population of the Maltese Queen Bee.
The project was launched by Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri and Parliamentary Secretary Chris Bonett.
This initiative has a total value of €261,000 of which €170,500 are European funds through the programme for Rural Development 2014-2020, while €90,500 are national funds.
The Gozo Minister said that “our vision is that the Gozo Experimental Farm at Xewkija takes a much more active role and becomes a Centre for Innovation, Rural Sciences and Environmental Management.”
He explained that the main objective of this project is to carry out research for the identification, conservation, and propagation of native Maltese fruit trees and to increase the population of the Maltese Queen Bee.
He went on to say how ultimately it will be the entire rural community that will benefit from this project in order to further strengthen biodiversity in the Maltese Islands.
This project will not only increase the population of bees but will also start a programme of artificial insemination of the native Maltese Queen Bee which will be the first of its kind in Malta.
Parliamentary Secretary Chris Bonett said, “with European Funds for this project we invested in scientific equipment to carry out educational courses to encourage professional and amateur beekeepers on how through their care, the bee population local will be preserved and increased.
The Directorate for Rural Affairs within the Ministry for Gozo is also working to set up a Laboratory at the Xewkija Experimental Farm.
The University of Malta, as a partner in this project, is helping through the experience it has in various local and international projects. In addition, Polish experts from the Horticulture Research Institute were brought from Poland to assist the Ministry for Gozo in setting up a breeding programme for the breeding of the Queen Bee.
With the help of these experts, the apiary in the Xewkija Experimental Farm will also be established.
Currently, a full week of training courses and demonstrations for experienced beekeepers and Ministry workers is underway at the Xewkija Experimental Farm.
