Bajaur’s Women Beekeepers Fight to Save Their Livelihood

Shah Khalid Shah

Bajaur: Ten months ago, the financial condition of Shahi Mandrooz BiBi’s household was stable, thanks to the traditional honeybee farming she had been practicing for years.

Twice a year, she would sell honey extracted from her home-kept bees, ensuring a steady income. However, her beekeeping business has suffered a sharp decline as the bees have stopped coming to the pots in her home.

“In the past, I had four pots of Jar at home, yielding around ten kilos of honey annually. At Rs 4,000 per kilo, this income covered some of our essential expenses, but now it has drastically reduced,” said Shahi Mandrooz.

Beekeeping in her family has been a long-standing tradition, passed down through generations. However, in recent years, the steady decline in honey production has forced her to abandon this practice altogether. “Now, all my pots are empty, and no bees come,” she lamented.

Shahi Mandrooz is not alone in this predicament. In her village of about 200 families—mostly poor—many households had relied on traditional beekeeping as a source of income.

Men also participated in the trade, assisting women in honey extraction and sales. However, with the collapse of honey production, families now depend on hard labor, struggling to make ends meet.

“The situation is so dire that my 14-year-old son had to quit school and move to Azad Kashmir for work to support our household,” she added.

Women’s Role in Beekeeping

In remote areas of Bajaur, many women engage in traditional beekeeping, making it an important source of livelihood.

Although no official data exists on the number of women involved, Abdullah, an official with the local honey traders’ union, estimates that around 500 women are engaged in domestic honey production.

Women in tribal districts of Pakistan rarely participate in business, making their involvement in beekeeping notable. However, many are now worried about the impact of climate change on their trade.

“I don’t know much about climate change, but the drought has badly affected our honey business,” said Shahi Mandrooz. “The flowers that once flourished in the mountains and plains have significantly decreased. Bees are unable to find enough food, and many are dying from diseases.”

Her husband, Ibrahim Shah, acknowledged the importance of his wife’s beekeeping business. “It was a blessing for us, and I always supported her. But now, we are struggling financially since honey production has declined.” He urged the government to take action and provide guidance on addressing this crisis.

The Honey Industry in Pakistan

Maulana Khan Zeb, a veteran beekeeper from Nawagai, Bajaur, has been in the honey business for over 30 years. He explained that modern beekeeping gained traction in Europe about 50-60 years ago, leading to innovations in honey production techniques.

“In Pakistan, Afghan refugees played a key role in introducing modern beekeeping during the 1980s, when UNHCR brought a new breed of bees from Australia. Over time, locals also adopted the trade,” he said.

Pakistan now has around 30,000 bee farms, employing nearly one million people, predominantly Pashtuns. Bajaur alone has about 1,000 farms, providing work for roughly 3,000 individuals.

The country produces approximately 30,000 tons of honey annually, with Bajaur contributing up to three tons, including traditional home-based production. Honey is harvested in May and September, with berry honey being particularly valuable due to its high energy content and low sugar levels.

Climate Change Impact on Beekeeping

Tayyab Khan Marwat, a former assistant director at the Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) department, outlined the four main bee species in Pakistan.

The most common in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the tribal districts is Apis cerana (small bee), which is traditionally kept at home. Other species include Apis dorsata (wild bee), Apis mellifera (European bee), and Apis florea, which is less common.

Dr. Roshan Ali, a soil scientist and meteorologist at the Swat Agricultural Research Institute, confirmed that climate change is severely impacting honey production.

“Weather data from 2008 to 2021 shows significant shifts. Previously, rainfall was abundant, and temperatures were lower, creating favorable conditions for bees. Now, erratic rain patterns and extreme weather events are causing harm.”

He explained that the destruction of wild plants, which bees rely on for nectar, is another major factor. To counteract this, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has approved a beekeeping development project, initiated through the Swat Agricultural Center’s Entomology Department.

Lack of Government Support for Women Beekeepers

Gul Badshah, Senior Supervisor at the NTFP Department in Bajaur, acknowledged that the government annually distributes beekeeping boxes, having provided 4,500 since 2004. However, these have only been given to men, with no data available on women beekeepers.

“We recognize that women’s honey businesses have also been affected, but we lack the budget to support them. If the government allocates funds through the ten-year development program, it could significantly help these women,” he admitted.

Shahi Mandrooz emphasized the potential of reviving traditional beekeeping with official assistance. “If the government and aid agencies help us establish sustainable home-based beekeeping, it could become a profitable business, allowing us to expand.”

The decline of honey production in Bajaur highlights the pressing need for climate-resilient solutions and government intervention. Without support, a longstanding tradition—and a vital source of income for many families—may disappear entirely.

Shah Khalid Shah Jee is a senior journalist from Bajuar.

All the information provided in this report is the sole responsibility of the reporter.

Post Views: 55

#HoneyBee #honeybeefarming #honeybeekeeping Bajaur beekeeping bees