JAMALPUR, Jan 1, 2025 (BSS) - Honeybee collectors are passing a busy time, and the locality is abuzz with beekeeping as entrepreneurs from various parts of the country are considering honey collecting as a prospectus as well as a lucrative profession.
 
According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), beekeeping is gradually escalating in the district, located in the north-central part of the country, due to honey's high demand and worthwhile profits.
 
DAE sources said honey collectors have already accumulated 10,530 kilograms of honey from the mustard field, for which the locality has worn an eye-catching and soothing yellowish look in the district till December 30.

Honey collectors set up 7,287 beehives, used for honey production, pollinating crops, and other purposes, to collect honey from mustard fields during the current season.
 
According to DAE sources, farmers in the district cultivated mustard on 41,550 hectares of land this season, but honey is being collected from 4,615 hectares of land mustard field.
 
About 45 honey collectors, hailed from various districts, set up beehives at all the seven upazilas in the district, the DAE sources said.
 
The honey collectors set up 2,812 beehives in Islampur upazila, 1,105 in Melandah, 1,100 in Sarishabari, 780 in Madarganj, 1,050 in Bakshiganj, 230 in Dewanganj, and 210 bee boxes in Jamalpur Sadar upazila.
 
Kazi Moniruzzaman, who set up 200 beehives at Gaibandha Union in Islampur Upazila, said, "I always come to the district from Gazipur to collect honey with a hope to make a good profit."
 
He informed us that he has already collected 800 kilograms of honey from the first week of December until today.

He said per kilogram of honey is being sold at Taka 350 to 400.
 
"As the weather is favorable, we will be able to collect a good amount of honey this year," he expressed hope.
 
Honey collection will continue till mid-January, he added.
 
Nurul Huda, hailed from Satkhira district, set up 190 beehives at Chhabilapur village in Melandah upazila.

He has already collected 35 mounds of honey. He said, "I collect honey from various flowers round the year, and I have been involved with the profession for the last four years."
"The honeybee collection has made me solvent," he said with a smiling face.
Mosharaf Hossain, hailing from the Satkhita district, said, "I have been involved with the profession for the last 15 years. He said my family depends on the income of honey collection."
 
He collected 35 mounds of honey from mustard fields at the village of Shyampur in the Melandah upazila.
 
Mentioning that he is facing an investment crunch, he said if he gets a soft loan from the government, it would be possible for him to continue the profession smoothly.

Deputy Director of DAE Zakia Sultana said 34 honey collectors set up 5,643 boxes and collected 26,450 kg of honey last year, but this year the number has increased significantly.

Farmers are also happy as during honey collection mustard farmers get benefits due to pollination, she added.