Sundarbans honey harvest plunges 60pc in five years

Honey production in the Sundarbans fell from more than 104 metric tonnes in 2021 to just 42.1 metric tonnes in the 2026 harvesting season, marking a decline of nearly 60 percent and raising concerns over the sustainability of the sector.

Although Sundarbans honey has gained increasing recognition and demand both at home and abroad since receiving geographical indication (GI) status, production has fallen so sharply that even domestic demand can no longer be met.

The shortage has also created opportunities for counterfeit and adulterated honey to flood the market, leaving consumers paying higher prices for products of uncertain quality.

According to Forest Department data, honey collection in the Sundarbans has declined significantly in recent years.

The Eastern Sundarbans Forest Division recorded honey production of 104.4 metric tonnes in 2021, 105 metric tonnes in 2022, 95 metric tonnes in 2023, and 100 metric tonnes in 2024.

However, output fell sharply to 64.7 metric tonnes in 2025 and declined further to just 42.1 metric tonnes during the recently concluded 2026 harvesting season an overall decrease of nearly 60 percent over five years.

AZM Hasanur Rahman, Divisional Forest Officer of the Western Sundarbans Forest Division, acknowledged that piracy has been a major factor behind the decline.

“Continuous extortion and abduction by forest pirates prevented Mouals from entering the deep forest, where the richest honey-producing areas are located,” he said. “Many collectors lost their capital after paying repeated extortion demands, which directly affected government revenue.

We are planning coordinated operations with law enforcement agencies to improve the security of honey collectors, eliminate piracy from the Sundarbans and recover the revenue losses.”

The decline has also dealt a major blow to government revenue. Under existing regulations, collectors pay Tk 1,600 in royalty per quintal of honey and Tk 2,200 per quintal of beeswax.

In 2022, the government collected around Tk 5.22 million in revenue from 3,008 quintals of honey and 696 quintals of beeswax harvested from the Sundarbans.

Although production and revenue fluctuated in 2023 and 2024, honey collection dropped to 2,076 quintals in 2025, reducing revenue to Tk 3.32 million.

During the April-May 2026 harvesting season, prolonged dry weather, the impacts of climate change and renewed pirate activity pushed honey collection down to just 1,738 quintals-the lowest level in recent years.

Total government revenue stood at Tk 3.93 million this year, including Tk 2.78 million from honey alone. With production declining by nearly 60 percent, revenue targets have remained out of reach for the past two fiscal years.

The production shortfall has driven retail honey prices up by Tk 300 to Tk 400 per kilogram, depending on the variety.

However, the higher prices have brought little relief to traditional honey collectors, locally known as Mouals, many of whom are struggling with mounting debts after falling victim to extortion and abduction by forest pirates.

“Ten of us entered the forest to collect honey, but members of the Mejo Jahangir pirate gang attacked us and abducted two of our team members,” said Moual Md Alamgir.

“We had to pay Tk 150,000 in ransom to secure their release. After that, we were too frightened to continue. I spent Tk 250,000 but managed to collect only two maunds of honey. Now I’m burdened with debt.”

Environmental experts attribute the crisis not only to piracy but also to climate change. Irregular rainfall and rising salinity have reduced flowering in key nectar-producing mangrove species such as khalisha, goran and keora.

In addition, the expansion of wildlife sanctuary areas and the reduction of the official honey collection period from three months to two months have further limited collectors’ access to productive forest areas.