Rafiq Ahmad

Dr. Rafiq Ahmad was an Agriculture Scientist and the founder of modern beekeeping in Asia.

Career

Ahmad worked as an entomologist at the Commonwealth Institute of Biological control, South American Station, Argentina and Pakistan station Rawalpindi. He was the chief scientific Officer at the National Honeybee Research Institute,[1] the National Co-ordinator, and Deputy Director of the General National Agriculture Research Center in Islamabad, Pakistan (PARC).[2][3]

In 1977 Dr. Rafiq Ahmad was assigned by the government of Pakistan to establish a honeybee culture program in the country. Multiple attempts by the department at Faisalabad University to establish European honeybees in the area, beginning in 1928, had failed.

Dr. Rafiq Ahmad established HBRI (Honey Beekeeping Research Institute) at NARC (National Agriculture Research Center)[4] Islamabad Pakistan. He discovered through research there that inbreeding was the major reason for the death of European bees in Asia, and resolved this issue. In the early 1980s Pakistan became 1st autonomous Asian country in honey production and export.

His knowledge and research not only helped Pakistan but also vitally assisted other Asian and Middle-East countries to develop modern beekeeping industry, thereby contributing to their income and economy.

Ahmad also conducted research on the effectiveness of honey bees as fruit pollinators.[5][6]

In 1992 he retired from Pakistan Government institute NARC. After retirement, he founded the National Beekeeping Federation, consisting of 52 Pakistani Beekeepers who harvest export class honey.

Awards

For his research, work and writings in the field of beekeeping,[7] Ahmad has received a number of prizes and medals, including a Gold Medal[8] and a Silver Jubilee medal from the government of Pakistan.[9]

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References
  1. M. Delphinado-Baker and E. W. Baker, " new species of neocypholaelaps from brood combs of the Indian honeybee".
  2. Proceedings of the Expert Consultation on Beekeeping with Apis Mellifera in Tropical and Sub-Tropical Asia Held in Bangkok/Chiang Mai, Thailand, 9-14 April 1984
  3. Bee Flora of the Hindu Kush-Himalayas: Inventory and Management UUma Partap International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Jan 1, 1997
  4. L. R. Verma; International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (December 1990). Beekeeping in integrated mountain development: economic and scientific perspectives. Oxford & IBH Pub. Co. p. 220. ISBN 978-81-204-0538-7.
  5. Journal of Ecobiology Volune 17. Palani Paramount Publications. 2005. p. 515.
  6. "Influence of Bee-attractants on Yield Parameters of Ridge Gourd. KV Jayaramappa - 2011. World Applied Sciences Journal, 15:4
  7. "Beekeeping 101 / Penn State Extension". beekeeping101.psu.edu. Retrieved 2016-02-23.
  8. "Pakistan Scientist Wins Gold Award for Honey Farming". Pakistan Affairs. Information Division, Embassy of Pakistan. 1985.
  9. Pakistan Pictorial. Pakistan Publications. 1986.
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