Development of Beekeeping in Bangladesh

BRAC is number one non-governmental developmental organization in the world whose mission is developing of resources and empowering people living in poverty. The project request came from BRAC at the meeting of official Slovenian state delegation with BRAC team in 2016. BRAC was interested in developing beekeeping as one of its agricultural activities which could be, if successful, upscaled to the farmers, building the whole value-chain if possible.

Western honeybee Apis mellifera is not native to Bangladesh - first imports happened only in 1980s – and beekeepers have limited experience with it. Agricultural institute of Slovenia was asked to perform pilot study on development of European-style beekeeping to check the feasibility, practicality and other parameters that might influence the beekeeping. Agricultural insitute of Slovenia is a leading agricultural research institution in Slovenia, covering all relevant fields. The Apiculture group within Animal production department was tasked to develop and lead pilot-scale project. The project was designed as hands-on-approach & boots-on-the-ground: a seasoned beekeeper and queen breeder Mr Brane Kozinc was dispatched to Bangladesh to take charge.

Medex d.d. offered to co-finance the project and three-partite contract was drawn between AIS, BRAC and Medex d.d. and dully signed on 3rd of April 2018. Government of Republic of Slovenia offered the services of veterinarian specialist for honeybee diseases for the duration of the project.

After two years the project run its course and came up with many answers and more questions. The project in itself was success: one of the results is quality honey with <17% of water content without extra drying, a result which was considered difficult at least at the beginning of the project. The beekeeping knowledge was carefully passed to trainees who are now, at the end of the project capable of doing most of routine beekeeping tasks. There were hiccups, of course, some of which could be avoided and some not. Yet one thing is clear: it is possible to improve the local beekeeping skills to the point where product could be sold for satisfactory price outside Bangladesh as well. An extension of the project is pending.

BRAC

BRAC

first meeting between Slovenian and Bangladeshi team

first meeting between Slovenian and Bangladeshi team

local apiaries

local apiaries

demonstration of melting in of comb foundations

demonstration of melting in of comb foundations

local apiary

local apiary

local beekeepers

local beekeepers

Mr Rahman, director Dairy & Food, BRAC Social Enterprises

Mr Rahman, director Dairy & Food, BRAC Social Enterprises

Mobile Apiary being manufactured in Kipgo d.o.o., Slovenia

Mobile Apiary being manufactured in Kipgo d.o.o., Slovenia

Mobile Apiary being manufactured in Kipgo d.o.o., Slovenia

Mobile Apiary being manufactured in Kipgo d.o.o., Slovenia

Mobile Apiary being manufactured in Kipgo d.o.o., Slovenia

Mobile Apiary being manufactured in Kipgo d.o.o., Slovenia

Arrival of the beekeeping equipment

Arrival of the beekeeping equipment

Handing over the keys

Handing over the keys

Mobile support unit

Mobile support unit

Bees for Bangladesh!

Bees for Bangladesh!

Bees for Bangladesh!

Bees for Bangladesh!

Bees for Bangladesh!

Bees for Bangladesh!

Bees for Bangladesh! Still in Slovenia.

Bees for Bangladesh! Still in Slovenia.

Bees for Bangladesh! In Bangladesh!

Bees for Bangladesh! In Bangladesh!

Inserting the bees

Inserting the bees

Way to first location

Way to first location

Coriander

Coriander

First harvest!

First harvest!

First harvest!

First harvest!

Road is already muddy

Road is already muddy

The harvest

The harvest

Sharankola - Sundarbans

Sharankola - Sundarbans

Sharankola - Sundarbans

Sharankola - Sundarbans

Mud due to monsoon

Mud due to monsoon

Evacuation

Evacuation

Evacuation

Evacuation

First queen of domestic production

First queen of domestic production

Cornerstone duet

Cornerstone duet

Queen cells!

Queen cells!

Director Simončič in situ

Director Simončič in situ

Inspection!

Inspection!

What do we see?

What do we see?

Lecture!

Lecture!

Lecture!

Lecture!

wax cups

wax cups

wax cups

wax cups

mating nuc

mating nuc

mating nuc

mating nuc

Drones! Finally!

Drones! Finally!

Drone comb.

Drone comb.

any mites?

any mites?

Combs full of honey

Combs full of honey

Combs full of honey

Combs full of honey

Combs full of honey

Combs full of honey

Viscous honey

Viscous honey

Moisture < 17%!

Moisture < 17%!

BRAC brand of honey

BRAC brand of honey

honey sale

honey sale

honey sale

honey sale

honey sale

honey sale