RANGPUR, Mar 27: Apiculture has ushered in a new hope to the farmers of Rangpur region in recent times.
According to sources honey collection through beekeeping in mustard and pumpkin fields and mango, litchi orchards has become lucrative. It has brought financial solvency to a good number of farmers under the region.
It has also become popular among many people involved in apiculture to collect honey from mango, litchi buds in the region.
Sources said this year during mustard farming season around 1,500 maunds of honey was collected through beekeeping in the crop fields in five districts under the region. The districts are Rangpur, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari and Gaibandha.
A good number of farmers are involved in collecting honey by using special boxes for bees. The bees collect the nectar from mustard, litchi, mango and pumpkin flowers in blossom in the surrounding fields and orchards. Then the cultivators process the nectar into honey in the honeycomb-laden boxes, sources informed.
Mahfuz, a honey cultivator of Kumarpara village in Badarganj upazila, said only one time investment is needed and a single box can yield more profit than rice production in a four bigha land in a year.
It is more profitable than crop farming, he said. Honey can be cultivated not only in mustard field but in mango, litchi orchards and pumpkin fields, he also said.
He has been farming honey in mango and litchi orchards this year and collecting good amount of honey, he added.
Mahfuz said he has 240 boxes of bee that he has kept in different mango and litchi orchards.
He is collecting 10-12 maunds of honey per week. Witnessing his success many families in the area started to follow his footstep, he further said.
According to DAE official sources honey farming or apiculture is becoming a profitable business in the region.
According to sources the new practice of honey farming has created congenial effects in rural economy through opening new avenue of employment. As a result the socio-economic condition of the people under the region is also improving, sources also said.
Talking to The Financial Express the honey farmers laid emphasis on technical support and financial assistance as well as smooth marketing system to enhance apiculture across the region.
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