Beekeeper training shows 60% increase in honey harvest


Islamabad: The Billion Tree Honey (BTH) encouraged planting bee flora to increase production on modern lines showing a gradual increase of 60 percent per hive in average yield during the six month pilot phase.

Under the government’s flagship project, Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Plantation (TBTTP), emphasis has been placed on improving current honey production and beekeeping practices in scientific terms in order to improve honey production. In order to benefit from the increased forest cover as part of the massive reforestation efforts, a senior climate change ministry official told APP.

He said the country’s current honey harvest potential was 7,500 metric tons per year produced by some 10,000 beekeepers using 300,000 colonies.

It could be increased to 70,000 metric tonnes of honey produced from the same harvest using modern beekeeping machinery, the latest techniques, product standardization / certification and intensive marketing, he added. He said that it is estimated that marketing 70,000 tonnes of honey would generate an income of around 20-25 billion rupees and generate around 87,000 green jobs. The BTH pilot phase which started on March 16, 2021, the objectives were to improve the production capacity, quality and income of the selected beekeepers, the training of 35 beekeepers and the follow-up services until the harvest of the honey, and the organization of networks specific to the Beekeeping chain to collaborate with BTH. During the pilot phase, unemployed young people and former beekeepers were initially targeted for training on the latest beekeeping technologies and methods.

However, the list of former beekeepers and unemployed youth was provided by the Departmental Forest Officers (DFO) of the selected areas, and based on this information, the five most suitable people were selected in each location.

The seven pilot locations for beehive placement included Scrub Forest Jhelum, Mianwali Plantation, Bhakkar Plantation, Ban, Dino Park, PM House, President House and Bani Gala Islamabad.

The BTH manager informed that the selected beneficiaries received on-site training at each location for colony management, and five modern hives as well as bees were moved to each location. When developing the design for the modern beehive, he stated that these hives were specially designed for the BTH pilot phase with an improved design; three-quarter size, three-tiered, the bottom panel was meshed for ventilation and the bottom panel attached to the brood chamber.

The beneficiaries were trained to examine the beehives and do the necessary management of the colony. They also received aftercare services to keep the bees healthy and maintain strong colonies.

At the end of the acacia honey flow, when the bees have matured the collected honey, the demonstration of honey harvesting activities with standard stainless steel equipment was successfully carried out at each location. These activities result in a significant improvement in the capacity, beekeepers and the amount of honey produced, i.e. about 8 kg of honey was produced per hive, 60 percent more than the traditional beehives, said the head of BTH.

To a question, he informed that the cost of a beehive was around Rs 21,600 including running costs for six months, while the income generated from the harvest remained at 37.03 percent of the harvest. initial.

To ensure pre-training, a three-day beekeeping workshop was also organized from August 24-26, at PMAS-AAUR, in which all beneficiaries were invited again and provided detailed training for bee management, l queen breeding and pest control throughout the year.

As part of the BTH-Pilot phase, in order to ensure better cooperation between the actors of the value chain for the supply of inputs and the making of arrangements for the repurchases of honey, networks specific to the beekeeping chain have also been organized.

Trainees at each site were coordinated with beehive manufacturers, honey traders and relevant forest service agents. Asked about the results of the pilot phase, the official said that at the end of the project period, beekeepers were sufficiently informed to offer their acquired expertise to their fellow beekeepers.

In addition, modern BTH hives have produced a 60% higher yield compared to traditional hives, where beekeepers first learned to use stainless steel honey harvesting equipment.

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