February 17, 2019
Bangla’s Honey Hub to export honey abroad
The Bangla Government’s Food Processing Industries and Horticulture Department has taken an initiative to export part of the honey to be produced at the Honey Hub in Deganga in the district of North 24 Parganas.
The foundation stone for the Honey Hub was laid by Chief Minister on January 11, 2019. The project has been allocated Rs 9.71 crore. The hub will be set up at the Krishak Bazaar in Deganga.
This is the first time that an official initiative for exporting honey from Bangla has been taken. Honey from the Sundarbans is exported to some European countries. Now this exporting will be conducted in a more organised manner.
Part of the honey will be sold in the domestic market, both within and outside the State, and the other part exported.
Honey collected by bee harvesters from the Sundarbans will be collected and processed at the hub. The Honey Hub will have units such as collection centre, processing centre, packaging centre, storage centre, display centre, etc.
The honey from the hub will be sold under a particular brand name to distinguish it from other company labels.
After the implementation of the project, multipurpose cooperatives will be set up, to whom bee harvesters will be able to directly sell their honey. With no middlemen involved, the sellers will benefit more.
Honey harvesting has a bonus point for farmers. Increased production of honey means a higher activity of honey bees, which can lead to a 20 to 30 per cent increase in agricultural production.
Over 3,000 bee harvesters in the Sundarbans in North 24 Parganas are involved in producing honey round the year.
Source: Bartaman
