Bee Farming Tour in Bihar: Exploring Opportunities for Quality Honey Production
On August 23, 2019, we embarked on a bee farming tour in Bihar to assess the progress of bee farming initiatives undertaken by our associates. We landed in Patna at 3 PM (due to a late flight), where our associate, Shambhu, welcomed us at the airport. Without delay, we headed straight to the bee farming sites, eager to meet both small- and large-scale beekeepers.
Enhancing Bee Farming Practices
Our primary objective was to share the latest techniques in beekeeping, honey harvesting, and quality improvement. During our interactions, we emphasized:
- Understanding the flavor profiles of honey and the optimal time for extraction.
- Proper packing techniques to preserve honey’s natural purity.
- The importance of collaboration—encouraging beekeepers to work in groups and strategically place hives to produce distinct flavored honey.
- The diversity of bee products beyond honey and wax, introducing high-value alternatives.
The beekeepers showed keen interest in these ideas and committed to working together to enhance product quality and yield.
Areas Covered
During our tour, we visited several key beekeeping regions near Patna, including:
- Bhojpur
- Koilwar
- Sandesh
- Dhan Diha
Exploring Local Flora
We traveled over 400 km across Bihar, observing the rich biodiversity that supports beekeeping. The following orchards were prominent in the region:
- Jamun
- Shisham
- Litchi
- Eucalyptus (Nilgiri)
Expanding Opportunities in Gujarat
Many of the beekeepers we met have extensive experience, as beekeeping is their primary profession. We invited them to bring their bee hives to Gujarat, where they could explore new honey varieties, including:
- Fennel (Sounf) Honey
- Drumstick (Moringa) Honey
- Sesame (Til) Honey
- Alfalfa Honey
- Ajwain Honey
- Forest-Flavored Honey
We are currently planning to deploy 500 bee hives in the Halol, Jambughoda, Desar, and Savli areas of Panchmahal & Vadodara districts in Gujarat.
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