Honey harvest reaches 24 metric tons in Ishwardi
A record amount of honey has been collected from litchi blossoms in Ishwardi during the current season. According to the Upazila Agricultural Extension Department and seasonal beekeepers, approximately 24 metric tons of honey has been harvested this season the highest ever recorded in the area.
Beekeeper Anwar Hossain from Joynagar Pramanikpara said he is collecting honey using 300 boxes and 1,500 frames. He stated, “We work in honey cultivation for about seven months a year.
Although our home is in Chatmohar, we move to Ishwardi’s litchi orchards during the season. Honey can be collected from each box every 6-7 days, but the litchi blossom harvesting period usually lasts about one month.”
He added that he has collected around 3 metric tons of honey this season, worth approximately 1 million BDT. Besides litchi flowers, honey is also collected from mango, mustard, black cumin, coriander, and silk cotton flowers for about seven months a year. However, during the off-season, bees must be sustained with artificial feed due to the lack of flowers.
Upazila Agriculture Officer Abdul Momin said, “This year, there has been a record amount of mango and litchi blossoms in Ishwardi, leading to increased honey production.”
He also noted that in addition to 10-12 local beekeepers, many others from different parts of the country have come to the area for honey collection.
He further mentioned that 23.46 metric tons of honey have been collected so far this season, valued at around 7.038 million BDT, marking the highest production ever recorded.
Sources from the Agricultural Extension Department say that 1,575 hectares of land were brought under honey production from litchi flowers this season. A total of 12,310 bee boxes were used in these orchards.
So far, 23,460 kilograms (23.46 metric tons) of honey have been collected, with an estimated market value of around 7.038 million BDT.
Across the unions of Salimpur, Sahapur, Dashuria, and Pakshi, there are about 11,270 small and large litchi orchards, making the region highly suitable for seasonal beekeeping.
