Apiculture has become a lucrative occupation for many people in Gopalganj.
To collect honey that could generate a Tk2 crore business, hundreds of farmers in the district have set up wooden hives in oilseed fields.
Farmers in Gopalganj sadar, Kashiani, Muksudpur, Tungipara and Kotalipara upazilas of the district, have been collecting honey since January 1, setting up 2,000 wooden hives in mustard, sunflower, and other oilseed fields.
The farmers say they have collected honey worth Tk1 crore so far.
“We have to stay in the fields till the end of the month to collect more honey,” said a farmer.
Usually, farmers of the district collect honey for two months (January and February) in a year.
Farmers of the district have been collecting honey for almost 20 years, said SM Zakirul Hasan Titu of Gopinathpur village in Gopalganj sadar, adding: “Apiculture is profitable, and most people in our locality have become self-reliant with beekeeping.
“A determined entrepreneur can turn a profit in the first year with little investment but hard work.”
Md Elias, who is a farm labourer, said he suffered a lot when he could not get work in farm fields round the year.
“Sometimes I even starved for a couple of days with my family.”
He said: “I am now working in oilseed fields and making Tk5,000 monthly.”
The number of apiculturists is increasing day by day in the district as it is profitable.
Yasin Sheikh, owner of a honey farm, said the number of bee farms in the district is increasing.
“Any aspiring entrepreneur can rear a colony of Apis mellifera, or European breed of bees, with very little capital. They can nurture them and reap benefits from honey extraction in less than a year,” he added.
Apiculturist Md Redwan Hossain said 100 tons of honey will be produced this year and the market price would exceed Tk2 crore.
“We sell one kilogram of honey at Tk200,” he said.
As many as 10,000 workers are directly or indirectly engaged in the honey industry of the area.
Deputy Director of the district’s Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), Samir Kumar Goswami, said both male and female bees draw honey from flowers, which increases pollination rates.
This helps increase crops, which ultimately benefits both farmers and honey gathering, he remarked.
