The historic village of Mongolbaria in Pakundia upazila of Kishoreganj now wears a different look. Litchi blossom and buds cover the trees and bees hum all around. The honey season has begun around these flowers, and beekeepers are busy collecting pure honey from rows of hives set up beside the litchi orchards. The honey is being produced while pollination by the bees is also raising the litchi yield.

Mongolbaria in Pakundia upazila has long been known as "the litchi village". Rows of litchi trees line both sides of the village roads, the courtyards of houses and the edges of fields. At this time of year the whole village fills with the scent of the flowers.

Litchi flowers are now in bloom on every tree, and thousands of bees fly through the orchards gathering from their pollen, giving the whole area a natural hum of activity.

Beekeepers set up wooden boxes beside the orchards. The bees gather honey from the flowers and store it in the boxes, from which pure honey is then collected. Because litchi flower honey has a distinctive taste and smell, it is in high demand in the market.

Beekeeper Mosleur Rahman Saumik said the litchi flowering period is the best season for collecting honey. The bees find plenty of flowers, so honey production is good. "We place the hives beside the orchards and the bees collect honey from the flowers. This gives good-quality pure honey. At present this honey is selling at about Tk 600 a kg," he said.

Another beekeeper, Safir Uddin, said: "The litchi flowering season is the most important time for us. The bees collect more honey then, so production is good. This is my own area and I put out hives every year, because the litchi flowers here give good-quality honey. The profit is satisfactory compared with the cost, so every year in this season I collect litchi flower honey in Mongolbaria."

Honey buyer Nazmul Haque said: "Litchi flower honey has a different taste and aroma. In this season we come to Mongolbaria to buy honey directly from the beekeepers. There's less fear of adulteration here, so we can buy for the family without worry."

Another buyer, Nazma Akter, said: "Pure honey is very good for children, so I try to get good-quality honey in this season. Mongolbaria has both litchi and honey, so I come here to buy. The price is a bit higher, but I'm satisfied because the quality is good."

Bees do not only make honey; they also play an important part in litchi farming. By pollinating the flowers they help increase the litchi yield, so many orchard owners encourage beekeepers to place hives beside their orchards.

Local orchard owners say that where bees are more active, the litchi yield is comparatively better, so both litchi growers and beekeepers benefit.

According to local people, Mongolbaria has about 10,000 litchi trees, large and small. Litchi farming is one of the main sources of income for the villagers, and when the season comes many families meet a whole year's expenses from litchi sales.

Beekeepers say the litchi season has created a good opportunity for honey collection here, so many beekeepers from other areas also come at this time to set up hives beside the orchards.

Agriculturist Dr Md Sadikur Rahman, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Kishoreganj, said the presence of bees during litchi flowering is extremely important for the yield. Bees help the fruit to set and raise the yield by pollinating the flowers.

He said the agriculture department regularly advises orchard owners on protecting litchi trees from pests and ensuring a good yield.

With the trees heavy with buds this year, orchard owners expect a bumper crop. If the weather stays favourable, Mongolbaria's delicious litchis will reach the market in just two months.

People involved say litchis worth about Tk 6 crore may be sold from the area this season. With litchi and honey together, Mongolbaria has become a bright example of the rural economy.

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