KHULNA, April 1, 2023 (BSS) - The season of collecting honey from the

Sundarbans began this (Saturday) noon.

The honey season was formally inaugurated by Abu Naser Mohsin Hossain,
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Sundarbans West Department (DFO), at
12:00 pm through collecting honey in Satkhira range area of the west
Sundarbans.

The West Department of the forest has distributed permission letters among
the Moual after the successful completion of honey collection training on the
premises of Government Primary School, adjacent to the Buri Goalini Forest
Office.

Later, the Moual will go to the deep forest to collect honey, the sources
said.

Talking to BSS, the DFO Abu Naser Mohsin Hossain, said 60 Mouals have
received permission letters today to enter into the Sundarbans. The remaining
Moual will gradually enter into the forest till June.

Besides, security measures have already been enhanced to ensure safe honey
collection in the Sundarbans. He advised that the Moual should loiter
carefully to protect themselves from the attack of wild animals like tigers,
the DFO added.

A target has been set to collect 3,000 quintals or three lakh kilograms of
honey and 800 quintals of wax from the Sundarbans this year, he said.

Of the total honey, at least 1,050 quintals of honey and 200 quintals of wax
have found in the Satkhira range of the Sundarbans.

According to the Forest Department, 1,012 permits were issued for the
collection of honey and wax in 2021. Against the permits, 6,797 honey
collectors went to the Sundarbans and collected 3,376.90 tonnes of honey and
113.09 tonnes of wax.

The Forest Department earned Taka 25,64,363 as revenue from honey and Taka
10,25,850 from wax.

In 2022, the revenue from honey was Taka 36,93,600, and from wax, it was Taka
15,31,200. That year, 2,320 quintals of honey and 696 quintals of wax were
found in the Sundarbans.