Apiculture in mustard fields receives a boom in Thakurgaon

THAKURGAON, Feb 04 (UNB): Mustard cultivation has been rising in Thakugaon like many other areas of the country as it is profitable both for farmers and honey collectors.
Honey collectors set up boxes in the mustard lands to extract honey as the yellow colour of mustard attracts the bees.
Thousands of bees collect pollen and nectar from mustard flowers which help its proper pollination, boosting the mustard yield.
During a recent visit to the mustard fields, this correspondent found a vast tract of field has turned yellow with mustard flowers and many youths are collecting honey by keeping boxes beside those fields.
Sirajul Islam, deputy director of Thakurgaon Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), said this year, a total of 19,790 hectares of land have been brought under mustard cultivation. The farmers are bringing their lands under mustard cultivation following a huge demand of mustard oil which can be extracted from the seeds of mustard. A total of 6,940 hectares of land have been brought under mustard cultivation in Ranishankail upazila alone.
During winter, honey collectors contacted the mustard farmers each year and set up their wax boxes adjacent to the field.
Nazrul Islam, a beekeeper, said "Bee helps to boost the yield of mustard and so is profitable for mustard growers and beekeepers. 6-7 days are needed to fill each box with honey."
Abdus Sattar, a honey collector in Kashipur union of Ranishankail upazila, said "Like every year, I have set up 50 boxes in a mustard filed and I am collecting 3-4.5 maund of honey each week."
Another beekeeper Al Amin Hossain said he came here with 45 boxes 15 days ago and now he is able to sell honey at Tk 400 per kg. The farmer is also happy with the good yields.