LUDHIANA,
Delivering the first Dr A.S. Atwal Memorial lecture at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) today, Dr K.S. Khokhar, former Vice-Chancellor, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, observed that farming insects for food and feed have largely been absent from agricultural innovations. Speaking on the topic, “Insects as Food and Feed Source,” he emphasized on boosting research and development of entomophagy. “Dr Atwal, a renowned apiculturist, introduced the Italian honey bee Apis Mellifera which changed the entire scenario of beekeeping in India,” he stated. The edible insects have nutritive value and contain more protein, fat and carbohydrates in addition to having high energy value than soybean, maize, beef, fish, lentils and other beans, he said. Insects can be used as feed for animals, poultry and fish, he added. Grasshopper, crickets, cockroaches, termites, lice, stink bug, aphids, beetles, caterpillars, flies, fleas, bees, wasps, ants, etc. can be complementary foods for poultry feed, he informed. Promising species for industrial feed production are soldier flies, common houseflies, silk worms and yellow meal worms, he said. Wingless grasshoppers, crickets, ant larvae and pupae can be used as fish bait, he added.

Presiding over the programme, Dr Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, appreciated the informative talk of Dr Khokhar. “We need to focus on future innings to keep the present accomplishments intact,” he said. Paying tributes to Dr Atwal, he described him as a great person who carved a niche for himself in the history of apiculture.

Earlier, Dr S.S. Kukal, Dean, College of Agriculture, highlighted the contributions made by Dr Atwal to agricultural research, education and particularly, commercial beekeeping .in Punjab.

Dr R.S. Sidhu, Registrar, while welcoming the guest speaker and the faculty and students of PAU, gave a brief introduction of the speaker, Dr Khokhar.

Later, Dr Dhillon honoured Dr Khokhar with a shawl and memento.