Honey Production Drops To 350 Tonnes In Paktia This Year

GARDEZ (Pajhwok): About 350 tonnes of honey have been produced in southeastern Paktia province this year, showing a 27 tonnes decrease, with farmers calling for a ban on imported honey, an official said on Tuesday.

Head of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock Department Abdul Basir Kochai told Pajhwok Afghan News this year the department registered 276 farms in the province, which produced 350 tonnes of honey, showing a 27 tonnes decrease compared to last year.

He said the reason behind the declined honey yield was a shortage of flowers for bees and beekeepers were not allowed to transport their hives to Khyber Pakhtonkhwa in cold weather, due to which the bees died.

He said his department was trying to ban the import of low-quality honey from neighboring countries.

“We have shared a plan with the ministry to stop importing low-quality honey from other neighboring countries. Honey production here in Paktia is good. We want natural honey from our own farms to be popular in the country”: Kochai added.

Khan Zaman, head of Paktia Bee Farms Association and a farmer, explained the beekeeping business in the province has been affected due to the government's inattention.

About 10,000 boxes of bees died while being shifted to Khyber Pakhtonkhwa due to delay in issuing permits in the port and shortage of food in 1403 solar year.

Khan Zaman asked officials and charity foundations to pay attention in this regard.

“Approximately 10,000 boxes of bees have been destroyed due to delay in allowing bee trucks to enter the port and shortage of food supplies based on statistics in Paktia. We demand establishment of training centers for people so beekeeping and honey production are up to standard this year”.

Zabihullah, a beekeeper in Gardez city, said the government should ban honey imported from Pakistan and Iran.

On the one hand, the quality of imported honey is not good and on the other, it has harmed domestic honey market, Zabihullah added.

Currently, one kilogram of pure honey is being sold for 330afs in the province.

hz/ma

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