Zahirul Islam Piya, an educated young man in Magura Sadar, dreams of overcoming his family's financial hardship and becoming self-reliant through beekeeping. Looking for a new source of employment, he took training in beekeeping and is now making his way forward successfully as a beekeeper.

Beekeepers in Ichhakhada Hajrapur union are having great success collecting honey from litchi flowers. Piya now has about 130 hives on his farm and has made extensive preparations for the litchi season in particular. He has set a target of collecting about 35 maunds of honey from these hives this litchi season.

Piya said his family's financial crisis inspired him to try something new. After training in beekeeping he started with a small amount of capital and gradually increased his hives to 130. With proper care and favourable weather, he hopes for a good yield this year.

He hopes his venture will interest other educated unemployed young people in beekeeping and create new jobs in the village.

Sub-assistant agriculture officer Pranab Kumar Roy said beekeeping can play an important role in the rural economy. It can be started at low cost and creates a chance of extra income alongside farming.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.