HAU secures patent for innovative ‘Bee Hive Strip Hanger-cum-Spacer’

Hisar: In a significant stride for sustainable apiculture, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (HAU) has secured a patent for its indigenously developed ‘Bee Hive Strip Hanger-cum-Spacer' a precision-engineered device designed to enhance hive management and combat one of the most destructive threats to honeybee colonies worldwide.The patent was granted by the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks, under the ministry of commerce and industry, Govt of India.
Vice-chancellor Prof Baldev Raj Kamboj lauded former HAU scientist Prof O P Chaudhary for the innovation, describing the device as a ‘transformative intervention' in scientific beekeeping. He emphasised that the tool addressed a long-standing challenge in apiculture: the safe and effective control of ‘Varroa destructor', an ectoparasitic mite regarded as the most dangerous enemy of honeybees globally. Prof Kamboj noted that the innovation strengthened India's capacity to produce cleaner, residue-free apicultural products while safeguarding pollinator health, an essential pillar of agricultural sustainability. Registrar Dr Pawan Kumar, director of research Dr Rajbir Garg, and director of human resource management Dr Ramesh Yadav were present during the announcement. Prof O P Chaudhary said the Bee Hive Strip Hanger-cum-Spacer has integrated two essential functions: secure strip suspension and uniform frame spacing. Structurally, the device is rested on the top bar of adjacent bee frames. A centrally positioned V-shaped bend, 15 mm in width and depth, serves as an optimised hanging platform for medicated strips used to control Varroa infestations. Once inserted, the hanger maintains a uniform 15 mm spacing between frames, ensuring the strip remained perfectly suspended without touching the beeswax comb. This carefully calibrated spacing prevented chemical contamination of hive structures and honey, while simultaneously enabling bees to move freely around the strip. The design ensured even distribution of mite-control agents throughout the colony, significantly enhancing treatment efficacy while minimising chemical residues in honey. A low-cost, high-impact innovation Prof O P Chaudhary described the device as a cost-effective, durable, and user-friendly solution that could revolutionise colony management practices. Application of a medicated strip now takes approximately 15 seconds, eliminating the recurring challenge of manually adjusting frame spacing each time a hive was opened. By preventing direct contact between pesticide strips and beeswax, the tool substantially reduces the risk of residue transfer into honey and other hive products such as pollen and propolis, an advancement with major implications for export-quality honey production and food safety standards. Caption of photo: Scientists with Vice Chancellor Prof Baldev Raj Kamboj MSID:: 128943662 413 |