Review



Thoughts on Economics

Vol. 28, No. 03 & 04

Impact of Honeybees on Bangladesh Economy: An Islamic Indication

Shah Md. Masum Billah*

Abstract: Honeybees are of huge economic importance in Bangladesh. They can play an important role in accelerating the development of national economy and contribute to achieve sustainable development goals in Bangladesh. They enhance the production of quality crops, fruits, vegetables and seeds through cross-pollination. Honey bees’ products such as honey and beeswax are vital income-generating sources for rural unemployed or landless villagers who can generate their additional income, and promote their family solvencies by way of rural beekeeping extension. Honey is a traditional healing for many ailments and it upgrades the quality and standard of food in the view point of taste and nutrition. In addition, beeswax is a major ingredient in various products, including cosmetics and candles.

In this paper, introduction to honey bees, honey bees colony, hive construction, food Sources of honeybees, ways of searching for food source by honeybees, food production through cross-Pollination, honey bees products, honey production, economic enhancement for rural development, and earning foreign currency by exporting honey, honey as medicine industry are highlighted. In this paper the researcher tries to focus on how Bangladesh can be benefitted in respect of economic point of view and national revenue income can be increased by producing, processing and marketing honey and beeswax and a lot of foreign currency can be earned through exporting them abroad. This article finally emphasizes on revelation a chapter of Al-Qur’an entitled “The Bee” in which two verses cover the essence of the honey bees and strongly recommendation by the Great Prophet (SAWS) regarding honey for healing purposes.

Key words: Honey Bees, Honey, Economy, Beeswax, Bangladesh, Pollination.

Section – I. Introduction

Honeybees are an integral part of our lives and without them life would take a very different turn. Albert Einstein Says, “If the bee disappears from the surface of the Earth, man would have no more than four years left to live.” Honey bees present only a small fraction of roughly 20,000 known species of bees. But only members of the genial Apis are true honey bees. In Bangladesh, two species out of four species of honey bees namely Apis cerana indica and Apis mellifera are considered for modern and scientific beekeeping in wooden boxes. The other two species namely Apis dorsata and Apis floreaare also available in natural condition in Bangladesh but it is not yet possible to domesticate them in the wooden hives for honey production and other related purposes. Honey, beeswax and pollination service rendered by honey bees which increase yield of many agricultural and horticultural crops are most valuable return of the industry.

Beekeeping is an ideal activity which provides supplementary income to a large number of rural, hilly and tribal production and also for horticulturists, agriculturists, hobbyist etc. because of the rich flora available in abundance in the country. Beekeeping can provide better food, balanced nutrition and employment to small and marginal farmers. It can also provide the unemployed and underemployed persons with full employment and extra income. Honey and beeswax are the most well known and most profitable direct products resulting from the efforts of honey bees. Thousands of metric tons of honey and beeswax are produced each year in Bangladesh and provides in millions of revenue income.

The article has been designated as follows: Section – II. Introduction to Honey Bees, Section–III. Honey Bees Colony, Section–IV. Hive Construction, Section–V. Food Sources of Honeybees, Section – VI. Ways of Searching for Food Source by Honey Bees, Section – VII. Food Production through Cross-Pollination, Section–VIII. Honey Bees Products, Section – IX. Honey Production, Section – X. Economic Enhancement for Rural Development, Section – XI. Earning Foreign Currency by Exporting Honey, Section – XII. Honey as Medicine Industry, Section – XIII. Findings of the Study, Section – XIV. Recommendations, Section – XV. Conclusion.

Section – II. Introduction to Honey Bees

There are four castes of honey bees in Bangladesh such as a) Apis cerana indica, b) Apis dorsata, c) Apis florea, d) Apis mellifera (Hannan, 2006).

2.01. Apis dorsata: Apis dorsata is a honey bee of South and Southeast Asia. It is found throughout Bangladesh in natural condition, especially large number in the Sundarbans, Madhupur, and other forest enriched areas of the country. Vernacular name of this species is Das/Pahari/Daittya (Saha, p.3). It is typically around 17–20 mm (0.7–0.8 in) long. It, almost black in color, the largest amongst all the honey bees, has never been domesticated in wooden hives but produces most of the honey in Bangladesh (Pasha, 2006). It is known for its aggressive defense strategies and vicious behavior when disturbed (Starr, 1987, p. 37–42). Many professional skilled bee-hunters collect honey from the Sundarban forest areas. Honey production is good. Thirty to forty kilograms of honey may be produced per year from a single productive colony in average. Quality of honey is comparatively inferior (Saha, p.3).

2.02. Apis cerana indica: Apis cerana indica, the Indian honey bee, medium sized, golden colored, is a subspecies of Asiatic honey bee. It is similar to the European honey bee (Apis mellifera), which tends to be slightly larger and can be readily distinguished. It is one of the predominant bees found and domesticated in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Burma, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand and mainland Asia (Benjamin, Siriwat, 2006). It is found almost everywhere in Bangladesh in natural condition. Relatively non-aggressive, comparatively quiet in nature and rarely exhibiting swarming behavior, it is ideal for beekeeping. It is being successfully cultivated modern and scientific way for honey production in domestic management throughout the country. In average 10 kg of honey may be produced per colony per year from a productive colony. Quality of honey is superior (Saha, p.3).It produces honey both in the wild and in domestication (Pasha, 2006).It is the most important honeybee species from the commercial standpoint in Bangladesh.

2.03. Apis florea: Apis florea, the dwarf honey bee, golden colored and quiet by nature, less stinging reflex and occasional migratory habit, is one of two species of small, wild honey bees of southern and southeastern Asia (Wongsiri, 1997, p. 23-35).It is found throughout Bangladesh in natural condition. It has a much wider distribution than its sister species, Apis and reniformis. Apis florea is a unique for its morphology, foraging behavior and defensive mechanisms like making a piping noise. Its honey production capacity is very few. Five hundred grams of honey may be produced per year from a productive colony. Quality of honey seems to be very good. Apis floraea, an important pollinator, has not yet been possible to domesticate in wooden hives (Saha, p.3).

2.04 Apis mellifera: Apis mellifera, the western honey bee or European honey bee, medium sized, golden colored and quiet in nature, is the most common of the 7–12 species of honey bee worldwide. Like all honey bees, Apis mellifera is eusocial, creating colonies with a single fertile female (or "queen"), many normally non-reproductive females or "workers," and small proportion of fertile males or “drones,” Apis mellifera is one of the first domesticated insects, insects, and it is the primary species maintained by beekeepers to this day for both its honey production and pollination activities for agriculture globally (Michael, 1999, p. 165–196).It was introduced in Bangladesh in the last decade of 20th century. Lion portions of honey and beeswax are produced in the world by rearing or keeping it. On the basis of good beekeeping source or bee plants and of migratory beekeeping more than 50 kilograms of honey may be produced from a single productive colony per year which is about five times than that of Apis cerana (Saha, p.3).

Section – III. Honey Bees Colony

A strong, healthy honey bee colony may typically contain between 50,000 and 60,000 honeybees but there may be up to 80,000 in one hive. Honeybees are the examples of social bees. There are three different kinds of honey bees in a hive: a queen, several hundred drones, and thousands of worker bees; each form is structurally and physiologically different from the others (Bhuiya, 2006).

3.01 Drones: Drones are male honey bees. They are the largest bees in the colony. They are generally present only during late spring and summer. Their heads and thoraxes are larger than those of the females. Drones’ large eyes touch on the top center of their head, which makes them appear more “fly-like.” Their abdomens are thick and blunt at the end rather than pointy like the abdomens of the females (Mortensen, Smith, and Ellis, 2015).Drones have no stinger, pollen baskets, or wax glands. Their main function is to fertilize the virgin queen during her mating flight. Drones become sexually mature about a week after emerging and die instantly upon mating (sexual union). Although drones perform no useful work for the hive, their presence is believed to be important for normal colony functioning (MAAREC, p.3).

3.02 Queen: Each colony has only one queen, except during and a varying period following swarming preparations or supersedure. The queen’s head and thorax are similar in size to those of the worker. However, the queen has a longer and plumper abdomen than does the worker. Throughout most of the colony life cycle, the queen is the only reproductive female in the colony and is responsible for producing all of the offspring within the colony (Mortensen, Smith, and Ellis, 2015).Her primary function is reproduction. She produces both fertilized and unfertilized eggs. Queens lay the greatest number of eggs in the spring and early summer. During peak production, queens may lay up to 1,500 eggs per day. They gradually cease laying eggs in early October and produce few or no eggs until early next spring (January). One queen may produce up to 250,000 eggs per year and possibly more than a million in her lifetime. Her second function is producing pheromones (a chemical substance produced and released by bee) that serve as a social “glue” unifying and helping to give individual identity to a bee colony(MAAREC, p.2).

3.03 Workers: Worker honey bees usually are non-reproductive females. They are the smallest in physical size of the three castes. They have specialized structures, such as brood food glands, scent glands, wax glands, and pollen baskets, which allow them to perform all the labors of the hive(Mortensen, Smith, and Ellis, 2015).In general, young workers perform jobs in the central area of the hive where the brood (immature honey bees) is. Young workers’ jobs include cleaning brood cells, feeding and tending the brood, and tending to the queen. As they age, the workers take on duties in the outer regions of the hive. These jobs include building comb, receiving nectar and pollen, storing nectar and pollen, processing honey and ventilating the hive. The oldest bees perform tasks outside of the hive, such as guarding the hive, removing dead bees from the hive, and foraging for nectar, pollen, water, and propolis (MAAREC, p.3,4).

Section–IV. Hive Construction

The bee hive is a solid structure, with its hexagonal shapes and interlocking forms there is no looseness in its combs. Allah has inspired bees to construct their hives:

وَأَوْحَى رَبُّكَ إِلَى النَّحْلِ أَنِ اتَّخِذِي مِنَ الْجِبَالِ بُيُوتًا وَمِنَ الشَّجَرِ وَمِمَّا يَعْرِشُونَ

“And your Lord taught the Bee to build its cells in hills, on trees, and in (men´s) habitations”(Al-Qur’an, 16:68).Ali (1977) commentates on the verse that the honeycomb, itself, with its hexagonal cells, geometrically perfect, is a wonderful structure, and is well called buyut, homes. And the way the bee finds out inaccessible places, in the hills, in the trees, and even among the habitations of men, is one of the marvels of nature, i.e., of Allah's working in His Creation. The bee is guided to make its home in the mountains, in trees and in structures erected by man such as Apis dorsata makes hive in forests, on large trees around dwelling houses, and even attached to the cornice (Hannan, 2006). Apis cerana indica constructs hive in dry, shadowy and dark places viz. hole of old trees, earthern pot, sunshade of buildings, occasionally used old almirah, hole of earth etc.( Alam,2006) Apis florea builds its hive in dry and shadowy places viz. bush of plants, almirah (old), sun-shade of building, window shade (Saha, p.3).

The hive is made up of beeswax-walled honeycombs, which have hundreds of tiny cells on each of its faces. All honeycomb cells are exactly at the same size. This engineering miracle is achieved by the collective functioning of thousands of bees. Bees use these cells for food storage and maintenance of the young bees. Bees have been using the hexagonal structure for the construction of the honeycombs for millions of years. It is a wonder why they have chosen the hexagonal structure rather than octagonal, or pentagonal? The answer is given by the mathematicians: “hexagonal structure is the most suitable geometric form for maximum use of unit area” If the honeycomb cells were constructed in another form, then there would be areas left out of use; thus less honey would be stored, and less bees would be able to benefit from it.

As long as their depths are the same, a triangle or quadrangle cell holds the same amount of honey as a hexagonal cell. But, among all these geometric forms, hexagonal is the one with the shortest circumference. Whilst they have the same volume, amount of wax required for hexagonal cells is less than that required for a triangular or quadrangular one. This engineering miracle concludes that hexagonal cell requires minimum amount of wax for construction while its stores maximum amount of honey. This result, obtained after many complex geometric calculations, can surely not have been calculated by bees themselves. These tiny insects use the hexagonal form innately, just because they are “taught” and “inspired” so by their Lord.

Section–V. Food Sources of Honeybees

The food of the honey bees is nectar and pollen. Honeybees collect nectar and pollen from the flowers and fruit of domestic and wild plants and agricultural crops. Allah says in this respect:ثُمَّ كُلِي مِنْ كُلِّ الثَّمَرَاتِ “Then to eat of all the produce (of the earth)” (Al-Qur’an, 16:69). According to Ali (1977), the bee assimilates the juice of various kinds of flowers and fruit, and forms within its body the honey which it stores in its cells of wax. To produce a single pound (0.5 kg.) of honey, more than 550 bees have to visit at least 2.5 million flowers is approximately 80,000 field trips (Ross & Hatchins, 1979, p. 438). Honeybees are well known for their highly preferential selection of the plant species for collection of nectar and pollen. Good bee forage is the primary requirement for good honey production. Foraging is generally concentrated on plants whose pollen is most efficiently collected and rich in nutrients and energy (Pasha, 2006).

Section – VI. Ways of Searching for Food Source by Honey Bees

Honeybees search for food source by two ways- navigation and communication.

6.01 Navigation: Navigation is the process or activity of accurately ascertaining one’s position and planning following a route. The ethologist Von Frisch (1953), novel laureate (1973), studied navigation in the honey bees. He discovered that honey bee workers can navigate, indicating the range and direction to food to other workers (Von Frisch, 1953, p. 93–96). The Qura’nic verse obviously refers to the navigation in the honey bees:فَاسْلُكِي سُبُلَ رَبِّكِ ذُلُلًا“And find with skill the spacious paths of its Lord”(Al-Qur’an, 16:69).In the verse Allah (SWT) makes a reference to the directed paths of the bees in which they have been instructed by Him to travel. Ali (1977) demonstrates that two meanings of the word Dhululan are possible: (1) ways easy and spacious, referring to the unerring way in which bees find their way from long distances to their combs; and (2) the idea of humility and obedience in them.

Allah (SWT) decrees that the bees will have permission to follow the ways which Allah (SWT) has made easy for them, wherever the bees want to go to suck juices from fruits and flowers to the vast spaces of the wilderness, valleys and high mountains far away from hive, then, obviously enough, their return to hive base should have been difficult. But, Allah (SWT) has made flight routes easy for them. Thus, they go miles away and return hive without swerving to the right or left, they come straight back to their hive where their offspring and honey are. Allah (SWT) has made for them flying routes in the air because in going by the circuitous pathways on land, there is the likelihood of going astray. So, it can be said that Allah (SWT) has subjugated the air space for this humble bees so that they can go hive without any let or hindrance.

6.02 Communication: Human societies communicate with each other in different accepted languages. Like human societies, honey bees display a spectacular community behavior. They also communicate with each other by a waggle dance. The Qura’nic statement indicates in this context:وَمَا مِنْ دَابَّةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا طَائِرٍ يَطِيرُ بِجَنَاحَيْهِ إِلَّا أُمَمٌ أَمْثَالُكُم “There is not an animal (that lives) on the earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, but (forms part of) communities like you” (Al-Qur’an, 6: 38).The bees, indeed, form a wonderful example of the community aspects of creatures as has been indicated in the verse under discussion.

In an average hive there are from 30,000 to 60,000 worker bees which become field bees on the twenty first day of their lives, and eventually may become scouts who go out and seek new sources of pollen and nectar, and report this information back to the other field bees. It is practicable for the bees to search an area of 100 m in radius for food to find the rich supply (Friedman, 1980, p. 764). According to Von Frisch (1953), novel laureate (1973), the method used by scout bees to inform their sister workers about the location of the food source is a waggle dance. The waggle dance gives information about two things. These are: (a) the existence of a food and (b) the address of the food. If the bee travels straight and then makes a clockwise turn and then moves straight again and makes a counterclockwise turn, then this dance signifies that there is food around. The direction of the food is provided in the dance-pattern in the following way:

The bee indicates by its dance the direction of the food with respect to the direction of the sun. The direction of the sun is represented by a vertical line upward on the wall of the hive. If the dancer goes vertically, it means that the place of food is in the same direction as the sun. If the source of food is at an angle of 300 at the left of the sun, the dance has an inclination of 300 at the left of the vertical line. The other bees watch the dancing bee and observe its position with respect to the vertical which corresponds to the direction if the sun and which also is the direction of gravity which the bees feel. When the dancing the bee flies away, others move in search of food at a definite angle with respect to the direction of the sun as indicated by the dance. (A Board of Researchers, 1995, p.134, 135)

Karl von Frisch demonstrated that bees can recognize a desired compass direction in three different ways: by the sun, by the polarization pattern of the blue sky, and by the earth’s magnetic fielda wide field of vision; the earth’s gravitational field. He showed that the sun is the preferred or main compass; the other mechanisms are used under cloudy skies or inside a dark beehive (Von Frisch, 1953, p. 93–96).

Section – VII. Food Production through Cross-Pollination

Pollination is when pollen grains are transferred from one plant to another, to fertilize the ovaries of flowers. Revolving around the inside of flowers in the quest to lick every drop of nectar, grains of flower pollen stick to the bodies of bees. This facilitates the process of pollination, the natural fertilizing of a flower’s reproductive system with pollen arriving on the bee’s body.

The most essential staple food crops on the planet, like corn, wheat, rice, soybeans and sorghum, need no insect help at all; they are wind pollinated or self-pollinating. Other staple food crops, like bananas and plantains, are sterile and propagated from cuttings, requiring no pollination of any form, ever. Further, foods such as root vegetables and salad crops will produce a useful food crop without pollination, though they may not set seed; and hybrids do not even require insect pollination to produce seeds for the next generation, because hybrid production is always human-pollinated. Many of the most desirable and common non-hybrid crops, like heirloom tomatoes, are self-pollinated, which is what makes their cultivar stable (MAAREC, 2000).

Honeybees are one of the most important pollinators for agricultural crops, wild and domestic flowering plants. Research into the role of honey bees has shown a direct and indirect contribution to food production systems. In Bangladesh, among insects honeybees are considered one of the most economically important species for agricultural sector because of their pollinating a wide range of crop plants. Some crop plants pollinated by honey bees and nectar and pollen-sourcing plants for them are: almond, apple, beet, bell pepper, black currant, blackberry, black-eyed pea, blueberry, broad bean, broccoli, cabbage, cactus, cantaloupe, caraway, cardamom, carrot, cashew, cauliflower, celery, chestnut, coconut, coriander, cotton, cowpea, cranberry, crown vetch, cucumber, dog roses, fennel, flax, goa bean, gourd, grape, grapefruit, green bean, green pepper, greengage, guava, haricot bean, hog plum, hyacinth bean, jujube, kidney bean, kiwifruit, lemon, lime, litchi, mango, melon, mustard, onion, orange, papaya, peach, pear, persimmon, plum, pomegranate, pumpkin, rapeseed, red pepper, sesame, squash (plant), star fruit, strawberry, sunflower, sweet cherry, tamarind, tangerine, Turnip, vetch, watermelon, zucchini etc. Tomato is pollinated by bumble bees (MAAREC, 2000).

Section – VIII. Honey Bees Products

8.01Honey

Honey is a sweet, viscous food substance produced by worker bees. The worker bees collect sugary secretions (floral nectar) from the blossom by sucking them out with their tongues. They store them in their honey stomachs, when they have a full load; they fly back to the hive. There, they pass the sugary secretions on through their mouths to other worker bees who chew them. The sugary secretions are passed from one bee to the other, until they gradually turn into honey. Then the bees store the honey in honeycomb cells. The honey is still a bit wet, so they fan it with their wings to dry it out until it becomes stickier. When it’s ready, they seal the cell with a wax lid to keep it clean (Crane, 1990, P.100-105).Therefore, divine statement refers to this system:يَخْرُجُ مِنْ بُطُونِهَا شَرَابٌ“There emerges from their bellies a drink” (Al-Qur’an, 16:69).

8.01.01 Honey Colours: Allah (SWT) states:مُخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَانُهُ“It (honey) is of varying colours” (Al-Qur’an, 16:69).The colours of honey vary with botanical origin, age, and storage conditions, but transparency or clarity depends on the amount of suspended particles such as pollen (Olaitan, Adeleke, Ola. 2007, p.159). The tannic acid is supposed for dark colour, and stringent taste. The yellow colour is due to carotin or xanthophylls and is characteristic of honey obtained from mustard flowers. Anthocyanin is thought to be responsible for the rose-red colour of white clover honey (Encyclopedia Britannica, 1962).

8.01.02 Honey Food Value: The honey bee is the sole producer of honey. Honey is a valuable economic commodity and for thousands of years, it has been used by man for food. Over its history as a food, the main uses of honey are in cooking, baking, desserts, as a spread on bread, as an addition to various beverages such as tea, and as a sweetener in some commercial beverages. Honey barbecue and honey mustard are other common flavors used in sauces (Hunt, Atwater, 1915). 

8.01.03. Honey Nutrition Value

Honey

Nutritional value per 100g (3.5 oz)

Energy 1,272 kJ (304 kcal)

Carbohydrates 82.4g

Sugars 82.12g

Dietary fiber 0.2g

Fat 0.g

Protein 0.3g

Μg = micrograms, †Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults. Source: USDA (US Department of Agriculture) National Nutrient Database, Agricultural Research Service.

Vitamins |Quantity |%DV† |Minerals |Quantity |%DV† |Other constituents |Quantity | |Riboflavin (B2) |0.038 mg |3% |Calcium |6 mg |1% |Water |17.10 g | |Niacin (B3) |0.121 mg |1% |Iron |0.42 mg |3% | | | |Pantothenic acid (B5) |0.068 mg |1% |Magnesium |2 mg |1% | | | |Vitamin B6 |0.024 mg |2% |Phosphorus |4 mg |1% | | | |Folate (B9) |2 μg |1% |Potassium |52 mg |1% | | | |Vitamin C |0.5 mg |1% |Sodium |4 mg |0% | | | | | | |Zinc |0.22 mg |2% | | | |

Sugar profile

One 1980 study found that mixed floral  honey from several United States

regions typically contains: Fructose: 38.2%, Glucose: 31.3%, Maltose: 7.1%, Sucrose: 1.3%, Water: 17.2%, Higher Sugars: 1.5%, Ash: 0.2%, other/undetermined: 3.2% = 100% (, 1980).

The enzymes, vitamins, minerals and other chemicals are all useful for human beings and honey may be a good source for the supply of these essential components of human nutrition.

8.02 Beeswax: Beeswax is a bi-product of the honey industry but in many ways it is more useful and probably more important as a resource than honey. It has a great importance from the economic standpoint home and abroad. It is flammable and has been used to make candles for millennia. Its waxy properties make it a useful sealant from moisture as a coating on leather or fabrics it keeps moisture out. As a salve/moisturizer on skin, leather or wood it helps keep moisture in. It also acts as a sealant to prevent air and moisture from metal tools. It is not toxic and edible, so it also works as a seal on cheeses and preserves. It is also a good lubricant. A nail or wood screw will be easier to insert if they are coated with beeswax. Likewise thread is often waxed to make it easier to sew. A sticking drawer or cupboard door can be fixed with a little beeswax (Brown, 1981).

Section – IX. Honey Production

The Sundarbans is the major producer of honey in the country and account for about 20 per cent of the total honey production of Bangladesh. These are mostly unifloral honey of goran-type and golpata-type. The other unifloral honey of the Sundarbans is khalshi-type; it is very high priced due to its high quality (Pasha, 2006). Most of the honey is collected from December to June but the peak period for collections is February to April.The mustard flowers honey is collected from Sirajganj, Tangail, Manikganj, Jamalpur and Kurigram from December to January. The coriander flowers honey is collected in January and February, and the black cumin flowers honey is collected from Shariatpur, Faridpur, and Rajbari in February and March.Litchi flowers honey is collected from Dhaka, Gazipur, Pabna, Natore, Dinajpur and Jessore in March.Khalshi, goran, keora and bine flowers honey is collectedfrom Sundarban, Shyamnagar, Burigoalini, Golakhali, Kholpetua of Satkhira ranges from the end of March to the end of April.

On the reference of Agricultural Extension Department SM Mukul reports that mustard seed is cultivated on 6 lakh hectares of land in Bangladesh. Black cumin in 20,000 hectares of land, coriander in 48,000 hectares of land, sesame seed in 20,000 hectares of land and litchi in wide range of land are produced (The Daily Ittefaq, 13 May2017).On the reference of Ebadullah Afzal, owner of Honey Bangladesh and president of Bangladesh Beekeepers' Foundation Bipul K Debnath reported that 6,000 metric tons of honey had been produced in 2017 in Bangladesh. Further Bipul K Debnath on the reference of Khondaker Aminuz zaman, project director of 'Development of Beekeeping Through Modern Technology Project' of Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) reports that if the whole cultivating areas of mustard, coriander, sesame and litchi are being brought under the production of honey and the number of advanced technologies and beekeepers is being increased, it is possible to produce more than 100,000 (one lakh) tons of honey per year utilizing the natural environment of the country (The Independent, The Weekend, 9 February 2018). By doing this, honey can be exported abroad to meet the country's demand.

Section – X. Economic Enhancement for Rural Development

10.01 Opportunities for New employment: SM Mukul reports that Various data analysis shows that about18 thousand beekeepers are directly involved in honey production and about 200,000 people are working in the honey industry in different ways except beekeepers in the country (The Daily Ittefaq, 13 May 2017). In addition, Bangladesh Small Industries Corporation (BSCIC) started “Development of Beekeeping through Modern Technology Project” on beekeeping, honey production and marketing using modern technology. The project not only imparts training on bee management but also provides quality artificial beehives to the trainees for bee-keeping to ensure profitable honey production. The project also provides short-term loans to trained beekeepers for buying equipment. Under this project, more than 15 thousand beekeepers (apiarists) of the country have been trained up to raise honeybees through scientific way (The Daily Ittefaq, 14 May 2016).If millions of unemployed youth in the country take training on beekeeping and honey production in scientific method and invest their capital in beekeeping with innovative thinking and self-confidence, opportunities for their employment will be created, unemployment will be eliminated.

10.02 Income-generating source: Bangladesh Institute of Apiculture (BIA) achieved significant success in the introduction of bee-keeping through training, extension, applied research and marketing. BSCIC and BIA often supply bee-keepers artificial wooden hives at a nominal price (Islam, 2006).It is acknowledged by M. A Masum, a correspondent that there are now more than 2,000 bee farms and more than 120,000 artificially wooden hives in Bangladesh (The Daily Ittefaq, 14 May 2016).Mustard, coriander, sesame, black cumin, litchi, etc., are cultivated in various seasons in different rural areas of the country, the people can set up artificially wooden hives in the crops fields. It requires millions of artificially wooden hives to raise more honeybees. By setting up bee farms and making quality wooden hives bee-keeping can be considered and might be taken up as an income-generating source for rural people who are in need of extra funds for survival. As a result, the rural people can earn lots of money and their economic conditions will be enhanced and sources of income will be generated.

10.03 Poverty alleviation: It may be mentioned here that in most of the 86 thousand villages in Bangladesh beekeeping is more or less feasible on the basis of existing natural bee plants. So it is to be expected that if there would be at least 5 poor people in each village in average then there would be more than 0.4 million poor people to be engaged in bee-keeping activities. When each bee-keeper on average will produce 10 kg of honey then there would be a total honey production of about 4,000 metric tons which is worth TK. 800 million per year. On the other hand additional crop, vegetable and fruit production as per scientific record is to be worth Tk. 8000 million by way of pollination through bee-keeping activities in the country. So it is to be appreciable that through the scientific and proper implementation and expansion of beekeeping through research and demonstration in the country there will be a good amount of honey production with enhanced crop, vegetable and fruit production. Subsequently rural poor people can alleviate their poverties and a large number of employments will be generated as well.

Section – XI. Earning Foreign Currency by Exporting Honey

Apiculture, or beekeeping for honey cultivation, can play an important role in developing our economy. As the demand of honey is increasing all over the world, honey and beeswax has now emerged in Bangladesh as a potential product for profitable export business. The honey of Bangladesh is internationally standard. A number of prominent brands and successful enterprises have developed the honey export business. Since the new market of honey is created, it is possible to earn a lot of foreign currency by exporting honey to different countries of the world through the processing and marketing of honey as very valuable resources after meeting the needs of the country. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, in the year 2014-15, Bangladesh exported 550 metric tons of honey or honey of Tk. 55 crore to India, UAE and other countries(SM Mukul, The Daily Ittefaq, 13 May 2017).As a part of export diversification, it should be given more importance of honey cultivation and honey export. It needs researches on honey production, marketing, processing.

In 2016, global production of honey was 1.8 million tons, led by China with 27% of the world total. Other major producers were Turkey, United States, Russia and India.

M. A Masum reports that the most honey is exported to European Union countries, which account for 38.3% of the total exports. China, the world's largest honey exporter, exported honey of 260.3 million dollars in 2014, which is 11.4% of total exports. Other honey exporter countries are Argentina 204.4 million (8.9%), New Zealand 168.2 million (7.3%), Germany 150.3 million (6.6%), Mexico 147 million (6.4%). Germany imports the highest amount of honey as a single country. Germany imported 24% of global imports in 2009. USA imported 16% of honey. Other major honey importer countries are UK, France and Japan (The Daily Ittefaq, 14 May 2016).

Production of natural honey – 2016

Country tons

China 490,839

Turkey 105,532

United States 73,428

Russia 69,764

India 61,335

Ukraine 59,294

World 1,786,996

Source: FAOSTAT (United Nations, Food and Agriculture Organization, Statistics Division), 2017.

Section – XII. Honey as Medicine Industry

Significance of Honey in Bangladesh economy is immense in respect of medicine industry of view through marketing. Researchers from around the world are discovering new and exciting medical benefits of honey. The Holy Quran refers to honey as a healer of diseases: فِيهِ شِفَاءٌ لِلنَّاس“Wherein is healing for men” [Al-Nahal: 69]. As stated in Al-Qur’an, honey has a feature of ‘healing men’. This scientific fact was also confirmed by the scientists who assembled during the World Apiculture Conference held on 20-26 September in China: “During the Conference, treatments with honey derivatives were discussed. Especially the American scientists expressed that honey had the property of curing much illness. A Romanian doctor stated that he tried honey on cataract patients, and 2002 out of his 2094 patients recovered completely. Polish doctors also informed that bee resin helped to cure many diseases like haemorrhoid, skin problems, gynecological diseases and many others.” (Hurriyet Newspaper, 19 October 1993)

The Great Prophet (SAWS) strongly recommended honey as medicinal

properties for healing purposes as narrated Hazrat Ibn 'Abbas (RA) that the Prophet(SAWS)said: الشفاء في ثلاثة شربة عسل وشرطة محجم وكية نار وأنهى أمتي عن الكي"Healing is in three things: A gulp of honey, cupping, and branding with fire, (cauterizing). But I forbid my followers to use (cauterization) branding with fire" (Al-Bukhari, 76:5680).Narrated Hazrat 'Aishah (RA): كان النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم يعجبه الحلواء والعسل “The Prophet(SAWS)used to like Al-Haiwa (sweet edible things) and honey (Al-Bukhari, 76: 5682).It was narrated from Hazrat Abdullah(RA) that the Messenger of Allah(SAWS) said:عليكم بالشفاءين العسل والقرآن “You should take the two that bring the healing: “Honey and the Qur’an” (Ibn Majah, 7:3452).

12.01 Treatments of some particular diseases: Experiments and studies on honey have shown that honey is anti-septic, anti-microbial, anti-pyretic, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergen, anti-toxic, sedative, laxative, anti-anemic, anti-oxidant, healing and cleansing (external and internal), moisturizing and blood-purifying. It promotes rehydration, easily digestible, stimulates immunity and is beneficial for all types of skins diseases (Needham, 2008). Honey is often used as medicine by the Unani and Ayurvedic physicians. Modern medicine has not studied its medicinal value in great detail. The following treatments of some particular diseases are, however, noteworthy:

12.01.01 Treatment of chronic alcoholics: It is believed that the prophet used to prescribe honey for different ailments especially for the alcoholics. In modern medicine, Larsen recommends repeated doses of 125 mgs of honey for the treatment of chronic alcoholics (Larsen, Brit, 1954, Digir, 1974). The rich content of thiamine, and other B-complex vitamins and various sugars is beneficial for the diseased liver in chronic alcoholics. Digir stated in his study on honey bee: “Its great value in the treatment of chronic alcoholics is being rediscovered today” (Digir, 1974).He quoted from many scientific journals of Britain, the USA, France, Italy and Germany to show that honey has been used with great success in helping chronic alcoholics restore their vitamin deficiency and ease the process of their detoxification (Badri, 1976).

12.01.02 Treatment of diarrhea: Diarrhea and gastroenteritis are found to resolve quickly with honey. At 5% (v/v) concentration, honey decreased the duration of diarrhea in cases of bacterial gastroenteritis as compared to group using sugar in replacement fluid (Bansal, Medhi & Pandhi, 2005). The Great prophet (SAWS) recommended the use of honey for the treatment of diarrhea. Narrated Hazrat Abu Said Al-Khudri (RA): A man came to the Prophet (SAWS) and said, "My brother has some abdominal trouble." The Prophet (SAWS) said to him "Let him drink honey." The man came for the second time and the Prophet said to him, 'Let him drink honey." He came for the third time and the Prophet (SAWS) said, "Let him drink honey." He returned again and said, "I have done that ' The Prophet (SAWS) then said, "Allah has said the truth, but your brother's abdomen has told a lie. Let him drink honey."فسقاه فبرأSo he made him drink honey and he was cured(Al-Bukhari, 76: 5684).

12.01.03 Treatment of tuberculosis: Avicenna, the great Iranian scientist and physician, almost 1000 years ago, had recommended honey as one of best remedies in the treatment of tuberculosis (Asadi, Pnjehshahin, Beheshti, 2003).

12.01.04 Wound healing: One of the most studied and most effective uses of honey is found in healing of wounds. The Russians used honey in World War I to prevent wound infection and to accelerate wound healing due to a combination of the osmotic outflow and a bioactive effect of honey (Bansal, Medhi & Pandhi , 2005).

12.01.05 Gastrointestinal tract diseases: Oral administration of honey to treat and protect against gastrointestinal infection such as gastritis, duodenitis and gastric ulceration caused by bacteria and rotavirus has been reported (Haffejee & Moosa, 1985).

12.01.06 Cardiovascular diseases: In the case of cardiovascular diseases, most of the previous studies were carried out in animals and mainly focused on honey's effects against cardiovascular risk factors such as hyperlipidemia and production of free radicals. Antioxidants present in honey include Vitamin C, monophenolics, flavonoids, and polyphenolics. Regular flavonoid intake is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases. (Yaghoobi, Al-Waili, 2008)

12.01.07Fungalinfections: Honey has been reported to have inhibitory effects on fungi. Pure honey inhibits fungal growth and diluted honey appears capable of inhibiting toxin production (Al-Waili, Haq, 2004).

12.01.08 Antiviral effects of honey: In addition to antibacterial and antifungal effects, natural honey has showed antiviral effect. Al-Waili (2004) investigated the effect of the topical application of honey on recurrent attacks of herpes lesions and concluded that topical honey application was safe and effective in the management of the signs and symptoms of recurrent lesions from labial and genital herpes compared to acyclovir cream(Al-Waili , 2004).

12.01.09 Ophthalmology and honey: Honey is used worldwide for the treatment of various ophthalmological conditions like blepharitis, keratitis, conjunctivitis, corneal injuries, chemical and thermal burns to eyes (Shenoy, Bialasiewicz, Khandekar, Al Barwani, Al Belushi, 2009).

12.01.10 Honey and diabetes: The use of honey in type I and type II diabetes was associated with significantly lower glycemic index than with glucose or sucrose in normal diabetes. Honey compared with dextrose caused a significantly lower rise in plasma glucose levels in diabetic subjects. It also caused reduction of blood lipids, homocysteine levels and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in normal and hyperlipidemic subjects (Bansal, Medhi & Pandhi, 2005).

12.01.11 Honey as food preservative: Hydrogen peroxide and non peroxide components such as antioxidants are found to inhibit growth of Shigella, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staph. Aureus helping in food Preservation. Clostridium botulinum however may be present in small amounts in honey. It has a good potential to be used as a natural source of antioxidants to reduce negative effects of polyphenol oxidase browning in fruit and vegetable processing (Bansal, Medhi & Pandhi, 2005).

12.01.12 Anti-inflammatory effects of honey: Honey reduces the activities of cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2, thus showing anti-inflammatory effects (Markelov, Trushin, 2006). Honey also demonstrates immunomodulatory activities (Al-Waili, 2003)

12.02 Prevention of diseases by taking pure honey regularly: Various diseases can be prevented by taking pure honey regularly. Some diseases are: Stress / fatigue, weakness, sleep disturbance, arthritis (Jayasinghe,1976), cold and cough, bronchial asthma, hypertension, obesity (Krishna , 2005), sore throat, burns, cut, allergies due to seasons, relief from hangover (Needham , 2008), bad breath, eczema, sub fertility due to lack of semen (Edward Group, 2010), teething pain (Taylor, 1998), vomiting, dermatitis (Tisera, 2000), jaundice, bleeding disorders (Pathinayaka, 1930), bed-wetting (Tarunaoils, 2007) etc.

12.03 Cosmetic uses of honey: Honey and beeswax are used in the beauty industry as a skin moisturizer, softener and to heal the skin tissue. Some cosmetic applications of honey are: face wash, facial cleansing scrub, facial to improve smoothness, facial moisturizing pack, pimples, cracked lips, lotion for dry patches of skin, hair luster, conditioner (Needham, 2008).

Section – XIII. Findings of the Study

1. Professional honey collectors collect natural honey and beeswax from the Sundarbans, Madhupur and other wild plants in the traditional way. They cut the beehives with sharp beams, knives or scissors through firing and smoking driving out the bees from their hives. In the fire, honey and beeswax are destroyed. Even thousands of honey bees die in the fire. In this way reproduction and propagation of honey bees are hampered. The quality of honey is being wasted due to the collection of honey uncleanly with brood and eggs.

2. According to research in agricultural and plant science, the importance of honey bees in the pollination of plants and crops is immense. Although beekeeping near fields aids crop production, local farmers are often ignorant of the fact, and see bees as pests. Honey bees help with the pollination of flowers of nearby crops to a great extent. About 15 to 20 percent of crop production can be boosted by them. But beekeepers are facing opposition from the local farmers while installing their bee boxes near their fields. The farmers do not know about the enhanced production of crops, fruits, fibers, vegetables and seeds by way of cross-pollination happened by honey bees;

3. Though honey production is profitable, there are few popular brands that are doing honey processing work in the country. Among them, AP, a honey brand of Ayurvedia Pharmacy, has been processing honey for a long time. They do not have high-tech processing plants. Machineries, equipment’s, medicines and artificial feedings in respect of appropriate and modern technology are not sufficient in this regard. That is why they are facing problems while marketing honey.

4. Compared to the local demand for honey, there is sufficient production in the country now. But the beekeepers are facing problems while exporting honey. Proper packaging system is not available in the country. For this reason, beekeepers do not get proper price for their product.

5. Honey bees are diminishing due to improper, unplanned and unscientific use of intensive and extensive insecticides and pesticides in the now lucrative commercial agriculture. Also, increased conversion of natural environments into agricultural lands has led to diminishing wild bee species.

6. Often swarming results in population losses in hives which hampers the ability to produce honey. Crowded and overheated hives are conducive to swarming due to lack of adequate ventilation and additional room in the hive.

7. Apis mallifera and apis cerana are two types of honey bees for commercial beekeeping. Beekeepers raise apis mallifera and apis cerana because of their huge production capabilities. But they have been using them for a long time and thus, their productivities have been reduced because of diminishing the breeding of apis mallifera and apis cerana.

8. Scope of higher training, extension, applied research and study tour on bee-keeping, honey extraction, collection of beeswax, and proper packaging, processing and marketing system is not sufficient in the country.

9. Beekeepers can’t run apiculture properly due to lack of sufficient fund. As a result, honey production is being hampered and income generation is being reduced.

10. Attention to restoration and expansion for bee plants community in the country is not sufficient.

11. A number of insects including ants and wax moth, birds, mice, and some other mammals often destroy honey combs.

Section – XIV. Recommendations

Some specific suggestions on the development of beekeeping, honey and beeswax production, collection and extraction of honey and beeswax, and proper packaging, processing and marketing system are recommended below:

1. Professional honey collectors should be provided special training on natural honey extraction and beeswax collection from the Sundarbans and wild plants following the scientific methods so that honey bees do not die and reproduction and propagation of honey bees do not hamper, and the quality of honey remain untrammeled.

2. Awareness should be created among the local farmers regarding the pollination of flowers and the production of crops, fruits, fibers, vegetables and seeds by way of cross-pollination happened by honey bees so that the local farmers can pay positive attention to the beekeepers while installing their bee boxes near their fields. So, the concerned authorities should take the initiative to make farmers see the positive side of beekeeping. Therefore, it is important to provide wide publicity and training at farmers' level through local agricultural offices and related organizations about the benefits of honey bees and honey bees’ cultivation to increase the production of honey-based crops like mustard seed, sesame, litchi etc.

3. Advanced technology should be provided for beekeepers to ensure sustainable production of honey resources, and machineries, equipments, medicines and artificial feedings should be facilitated for them in order to produce internationally standard honey at the target of increasing revenue income of the country.

4. The Agriculture Ministry and BSCIC should take necessary steps to ensure proper packaging system, processing and marketing of honey and make honey an export item and should give it more importance as part of export diversification so that the beekeepers can export precious honey resources to international competitive markets and can earn a lot of foreign currency by meeting the country's demands.

5. Consciousness should be awakened among the farmers in respect of harmful use of insecticides and pesticides in the agricultural fields, and appropriate steps should be taken by the government for bee-keeping on proper, planned and scientific use of insecticides and pesticides.

6. Swarming tendency may be overcome by providing adequate ventilation and additional room in the hive. Requeening with young queens early in the season also prevent swarming. In addition, when bees are short of honey, sugar syrup (two part sugar and one part water) may be substituted in order to counteract swarming.

7. In respect of research and demonstration activities for the promotion and extension of beekeeping a modern bee research institute should be established in every upazila of the country following many potential and developing countries of the world in order to increase breeding of apis mallifera and apis cerana and to train beekeepers on how to collect honey, beeswax due to having these lucrative export products a huge demand abroad.

8. Steps should be undertaken by the government for higher training and study tour/visit for bee-keepers and bee-keeping employees/scientists/researchers abroad with the financial help of recognized international donor agencies to be organized by the world authority for bee-keeping and developed countries as well.

9. Loan facilities for beekeepers should be provided at easy conditions to increase honey production and continue income generation.

10. People including government should pay their highest attention to restoration and expansion for bee plants community in the country which is indeed a great need for better environment for the country and mankind as well.

11. Seminar/ workshop/ symposium on bee-keeping can be organized in every potential area of the country. In addition, Publicity of bees, bee-keeping and all bee products can be more strengthened nationally through various means of communication including electronic and print media.

Section – XV. Conclusion

Bangladesh has a large unrealized potential for the raising of honey bees due to availabilities in abundant of multi-seasonal plants and crops, ready local and international markets and a large number of labor pools. By utilizing all these advantages, there will be a unique opportunities for Bangladesh economic development through the promotion and extension of honey bees and their cultivations. As about 80% of total populations of the country lives in the rural areas and out of which about 63% is dependent on agriculture. The necessity of honey bees cultivation, its expansion and development is undeniable and its potentiality is vast in favor of the agriculture based rural economy of Bangladesh. A remarkable achievement may be made in the field of agricultural and horticultural production through cross-pollination. Beekeeping is a vast scientific subject, related to agriculture, food, nutrition, and medicine, industrial products and environment. Finally, it is to be told that bee-keeping in Bangladesh is a proven technology as good profitable venture requiring small investment of capital and skilled labors and high yield enterprise in comparison to other poverty reduction activities. Nevertheless, bee-keeping can play a vital role in accelerating the development of national economy.

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