Beekeeping Becomes a Lucrative Business in Rural Areas
Fakhar-e-Alam
Peshawar: Fixing steel nails in wooden bee-boxes under a bare tree on the bank of the River Kabul, Hussain Khan, a progressive beekeeper, is making determined efforts to prepare for the upcoming spring season.
As sunlight bathes his house, the 35-year-old beekeeper starts his Alto car to reach his farmhouse in Pashtoon Ghari village, Nowshera. Along with his co-beekeepers, he begins assembling 500 bee-boxes to capitalize on the blooming of bee-flora plants.
“Following the untimely death of my parents, life became a nightmare as my relatives demanded repayment of a large sum borrowed for their treatment. This forced me to leave my education and take up beekeeping,” Hussain recalled with teary eyes.
Starting with just 50 bee-boxes in 2020, his hard work and commitment increased the number to 500 within four years, enabling him to clear his debts and establish a beekeeping farmhouse.
A Cost-Effective and Profitable Enterprise
Hussain emphasized that beekeeping requires relatively low investment. With an initial investment of Rs 500,000, one can earn up to Rs 100,000 per month. Employing two laborers, he plans to expand his business to Punjab and Azad Kashmir, where bee-flora is abundant under the Prime Minister’s Green Pakistan Program.
He urged the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government to plant native species like palosa, bair, and shisham, provide interest-free loans to beekeepers, and regulate honey prices.
Pakistan’s Ideal Climate for Beekeeping
Sher Zaman, General Secretary of the All Pakistan Beekeepers Association, highlighted that Pakistan’s biodiversity and climate conditions are highly suitable for beekeeping.
More than 700 bee-flora plants exist across the provinces, attracting millions of indigenous and exotic honey bees annually.
He pointed out that beekeeping is flourishing in rural areas such as Chakwal, Mianwali, Gujarkhan, Attock, Sargodha, Rawalpindi, Jehlum, and Pathoki in Punjab; Karak, Kohat, Swat, DI Khan, Chitral, Peshawar, Nowshera, Charsadda, Bannu, Hazara, Malakand, Tarbela, and Haripur in KP; Quetta, Ziarat, Naseerabad, and Kalat in Balochistan; and Thatta, Sujawal, Mirpur Khas, and Hyderabad in Sindh.
Boosting Honey Exports and Market ExpansionPakistan’s honey exports—especially bair and phulai honey—have increased significantly to markets including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Yemen, Iraq, Qatar, Libya, Afghanistan, Malaysia, the USA, China, Singapore, Azerbaijan, and Mongolia.
Sher Zaman called for improved marketing strategies and government-backed initiatives to further enhance honey exports. He also urged authorities to issue identification cards for beekeepers to facilitate smooth migration between districts and provinces.
Challenges in Beekeeping
Climate Change and DeforestationIftikhar Khalil, former Director of Apiculture/NTFP, noted that Pakistan is home to four major honey bee species: Apis Cerana (small bee), Apis Dorsata (wild bee), Apis Flori (little bee), and exotic Apis Mellifera.
The latter, introduced from Australia in 1977, has a high honey production capacity, with each colony yielding 20 to 25 kg of honey annually compared to 6 to 8 kg from native bees.
He stressed that climate change and deforestation threaten wild bee populations, particularly Apis Flori and Apis Dorsata, commonly known as “Swat bees.” Without intervention, these species may face extinction in the coming decades.
Economic Potential of Beekeeping
Iftikhar Khalil highlighted that beekeeping has immense economic potential, with the capacity to generate Rs 43 billion in revenue and create over 100,000 new jobs by achieving a 70,000 MT honey production target.
He added that an estimated 5.2 million bair trees could be planted in Karak, Kohat, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Tank, and DI Khan—regions most suitable for beekeeping.
Under the National Apiculture Up-scaling Program for Income and Rural Employment (ASPIRE), 15,000 beekeepers and farmers will be trained nationwide, with certification through the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC).
Beekeeping as Solution to Unemployment
Dr. Naeem Khattak, former Chairman of the Economics Department, emphasized that beekeeping can significantly help combat unemployment in Pakistan.
According to the Economic Survey of Pakistan 2023-24, around 4.5 million people are unemployed, with the highest joblessness rate (11.1%) among youth aged 15-24.
He advocated for a national apiculture policy, quality standards for bee products and equipment, and the promotion of beekeeping as a vital agricultural and environmental sector.
Future Prospects
Musawar Khan, Adviser to the Chief Minister KP for Forests, recognized bees as crucial to Pakistan’s ecosystem. He stated that beekeepers are receiving extensive training from NTFP experts and that thousands of bee-boxes have been distributed among flood-affected farmers in KP.
He also announced the introduction of new honey varieties, such as “Margalla” honey, known for its benefits for asthma and allergy patients, and “Ber and Kalonji” honey, which offers various health advantages.
With continued government support, beekeeping in Pakistan has the potential to become a major industry, benefiting thousands of farmers while contributing to economic growth and environmental conservation.
