UFERSA opens Meliponário Paulo Menezes at the Experimental Farm

UFERSA opens Meliponário Paulo Menezes at the Experimental Farm

The World Bee Day, 20 May, was celebrated with the inauguration of the Meliponário Paulo Meneses, at the Rafael Fernandes Experimental Farm, from the Federal Rural University of the Semi-Arid. The tribute is a recognition of potiguar bee breeders to the work left by the beekeeper who died last year, victim of covid-19. “We received this honor with great pride., because he lived for the jandaíra bee for more than 40 years", said the widow of Paulo Menezes, Simone Menezes, when thanking the tribute. The installation of the meliponary is another initiative of the Nucleus for Technological Training in Beekeeping – NCTA – coordinated by the professor at UFERSA, Katia Gramacho.

The commemorative program began on Monday., with the Beekeeping Seminar at the Hotel Vila Oeste, having as a high point the inauguration of the Meliponário Paulo Meneses. “NCTA is a reference space for beekeepers where training courses are offered, in addition to being a place for sharing information about bee management, replace raw wax with honeycomb wax and, soon we will also be distributing genetically improved queen bees”, scored teacher Katia. The UFERSA Beekeeping Nucleus is open to all beekeepers in the region, inclusive, in the offer of courses that are offered through the associations.

The NCTA was conceived by Professor Lionel Segui Gonçalves, one of the main researchers in the field of beekeeping in the country during his time at UFERSA as a visiting professor. “I came to work here in Mossoró and I never imagined that one day I would be in a situation of great satisfaction. It's a phase of my life that I will never forget.. What I have to say is that the product is to benefit Brazilian beekeeping, the meliponiculture. Congratulations to UFERSA for the work done here at the Experimental Farm”, considered Professor Lionel who came from Ribeirão Preto, in Sao Paulo, to participate in the inauguration and celebrations of the University for the passage of World Bee Day.

Professor Lionel's perspective is that very soon the NTCA will become a national and even international reference in studies, bee research and management. O Dr. A.S. Lionel is also the founder of the Campaign No Bee, No Food (No Bee, No Food), international in scope.

As far as the current management of the University is concerned, recognition will come quickly. “We want to ensure the guarantee and expansion of this work that had Professor Lionel as a great precursor and the continuity of Professor Kátia Gramaçho and her team to advance and expand in favor of regional development”, assured the dean Ludimilla Oliveira.

The dean considers the Rafael Fernandes Experimental Farm as the largest laboratory at the University where everything that is produced, managed on site has a scientific feel with a technological profile. “Our perspective is that from the Treasury we can make our first international agreement with the country of Israel, inclusive, with the expectation of receiving a visit from the Israeli ambassador in Brazil to the Experimental Farm”, announced Ludimilla.

The president of the Meliponicultores Association, Erione Belém, is grateful for the support that beekeepers have been receiving in recent years from UFERSA. “It is an important initiative for adding the academy to the meliponiculture activity with concrete and constant support. The University goes to the field, which is very important for us who work with meliponiculture”, opined the representative of beekeepers that there are 14 years raises bees and 6 preside over the Association.

during the solemnity, the University, through the Sabiá Platform Extension Project, delivered to the Association of Meliponicultores the first 15 honey collector kits 60 that will be delivered by UFERSA. “We promote ongoing training, we organize technical standards for meliponiculture, laboratory analysis of honey and now we are providing these collectors to beekeepers”, advanced Professor Jean Berg, coordinator of the Sabiá Platform Project.

Text extracted from: https://assecom.ufersa.edu.br/2022/05/23/ufersa-inaugura-apiario-paulo-menezes-na-fazenda-experimental/?fbclid=IwAR2G9n49fyZPbqMQ0g3n0eHUCg_B5EdPuDGLly2NUS_Hh-h85qrapw4gZmc