Apiculture thrives in Chalanbeel

Apiculture in mustard fields during winter has been gaining popularity among farmers at Chalanbeel in both Pabna and Sirajganj districts for the last couple of years, as it helps in bumper production of crops as well as in production of honey.

Around 1,500 tonnes to 2,000 tonnes of honey are likely to be collected from the mustard fields in Pabna, Natore and Sirajganj this year, with the target of earning an additional Tk 25 crore, said North Bengal Beekeepers' Association President Md Jahangir Alam.

Around 68,000 hectares of land have been brought under mustard cultivation in Pabna, Sirajganj and Natore this season and over 60,000 bee boxes have been set up in the vast mustard fields in Chalanbeel, he added.

"Over 800 bee farmers from different districts went to Chalanbeel area in December, expecting to collect 1,500 tonnes to 2,000 tonnes of honey from mustard fields on 68,000 hectares this year and expect to earn around Tk 25 crore,” Jahangir told this correspondent.

“Honey is collected by setting up special boxes for bees in the mustard fields. The bees collect the nectar from mustard flowers in blossom from the surrounding fields. They process the nectar into honey in the honeycomb-laden boxes. Due to this process, farmers get 25 percent to 30 percent additional production of the crop, said agriculturist Jafar Sadek.

“Bee farmers from different parts of the country have gone to Pabna, Sirajganj and Natore to set up bee boxes and collect honey from the mustard fields. Chalanbeel farmers did not have any interest in setting up bee boxes in mustard fields four or five years ago, but now they realise that bee keeping in mustard fields brings 25 percent to 30 percent additional crop,” said beekeeper Md Shajahan Ali of Pabna's Ishwardi upazila.

Shajahan set up 200 bee boxes at Chachkia village in Pabna's Bhangura upazila in December, and is getting two kg to three kg of honey from each box every week.

The total domestic demand for honey is around 2,500 tonnes annually. In spite of the fast growth in the volume of scientific honey production, 70 percent of the item still comes from abroad, said Abdul Ahad, secretary of North Bengal Beekeepers' Association.

 “Mustard field is more suitable for honey collection than any other winter crop. I have set up 200 boxes in one bigha of land at Aligram village under Ullapara upazila of Sirajganj this year. I collect three kg to four kg of honey every week. Honey collection from mustard field will continue till February,” he said.