Record 44.6 tonnes honey collected in Jamalpur

BSS, Jamalpur :
Honey collection has been completed in the district this Rabi season through collecting a huge quantity of honey that broke the last year’s record.
The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) Office said they have
collected 44,601 kilograms (kgs) of honey from the mustard field under seven upazilas of the district which is 11,000 kilograms more than the last year.
According to the DAE, farmers of the district cultivated mustard on 32,500 hectares of land in the fiscal year of 2022-2023 but honey was collected from 6,611 hectares of land only which is 1,696 hectares more than last year.
Honey collectors set up 6,312 bee boxes in all the seven upazilas of the
district which is 1,464 more than earlier.
The office said highest 14,315-kg honey was collected from Melandah upazila which was followed by 11,780-kg from Islampur upazila, 7,825-kg from Madarganj, 4,560-kg from Dewanganj, 3,567-kg from Sarishabari, 1,820-kg from Bakshiganj and 734-kg from Jamalpur Sadar upazila.
Deputy Director of the DAE Zakia Sultana said the honey collectors got huge honey as farmers of the district cultivated mustard on extensive land this year.
Honey farming has become popular in Bangladesh while demand of pure honey is increasing in home and abroad day by day, she added.
 Boro cultivation begin
Farmers in the district have started Boro cultivation with a production target of 561,966 tonnes in Jamlapur district this year.
Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) office sources said farmers have completed cultivation of Boro on 360 hectares of land till January 8. Boro cultivation is expected to increase this year due to favourable weather condition, they added.  
DAE Deputy Director Zakia Sultana said farmers prepared seed bed on 6,221 hectares of land which is 233 hectares more than the target.
“With a view to achieving the target we have already allotted fertilizer in Upazila level so that farmers can get the fertilizer in due time,” she said.
 The target of Boro paddy cultivation has been fixed on 129,630 hectares of land in this current Robi season in the district.
According to DAE, farmers will cultivate three varieties of Boro paddy – high-breed on 49,900 hectares with a production target 247,504 tonnes, high yielding variety on 79,500 hectares with a production target 314,025 tonnes and local variety on 230 hectares with a production target 437 tonnes.