This Bengal woman shows there’s money in honey

There is no distinction like ‘this is a man’s job’ or ‘woman’s job’ in my family. This open-mindedness gave me a lot of freedom while growing up. Thanks to this upbringing, I’m in this unusual profession today. 

My father reared Indian bees, which was an uncommon occupation in the area as it involves a bit of danger. But he persisted with beekeeping. During my school days, I’d follow my uncle around, helping him clean the smoker, replace frames, provide sugar water for the bees, spin the hive’s frames in a machine to extract the honey and then take the empty frames further away to avoid attracting pests to the colony.

Working with bees from such a young age, I developed a deep understanding and love for beekeeping.

The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has been promoting beekeeping and honey production. In addition to establishing a research institute for bees, KVIC set up beekeeping units wherever plants suitable for bees were found. It handed over the beekeeping units to local cooperatives in the late 1950s when government workers struggled to maintain them. 

My uncle took charge of the South 24 Parganas cooperative. With a new committee and hard work, we established ourselves as one of the prominent beekeepers in West Bengal.

The cooperative showed that one could make a good living through beekeeping. 

Being a science student, I had access to special resources and insights, which deepened my interest in beekeeping. Managing our home’s bee colony and producing honey became a part of my routine.

Alongside, I started teaching about beekeeping. Today, thanks to our coordinator, I teach beekeeping at the National Council of Education, Bengal. Over the past 15 years, I have taught many college students, even those studying apiculture. 

KVIC honoured me as the only woman beekeeper in the industry. In 2018, I received recognition for not just honey production but also for making other products like beeswax and royal jelly that have high market value and improve the quality of life. At first, we sold honey in bulk to local buyers and commercial businesses. However, over time, the cost of maintaining the hives increased significantly, and the quality of the honey decreased. This made it harder to compete in the market, especially in other states. Currently, one kilogram of honey costs about Rs.  305, including taxes. The price is even higher for pure honey, especially if it is labeled as single-flower honey.

Investing in beekeeping depends on many factors, such as the type of flowers available for the bees and how well the hives are maintained. During the monsoon season, commercial beekeepers face additional challenges, like having to migrate their bees to new locations and covering medical expenses for the bees. With proper care and favourable natural conditions, a family can sustain themselves well through beekeeping. Understanding how to take care of the bees and how they interact with their environment makes a big difference. 

Besides honey, there are other valuable products that bees produce, such as beeswax, pollen, royal jelly, propolis, and even bee venom. These products can be marketed in various ways, adding more value to the beekeeping business.

I have been involved in various beekeeping projects – from government initiatives to United Nations’ programmes.

To sustain human life, we need to focus more on bees because they are crucial for pollination. Research shows that if the last bee dies, the world’s food chain will break down within three months, leading to chaos. Einstein once predicted that if bees disappeared, humanity would follow within four years. We are gradually moving towards that dire scenario. 

So we must take beekeeping seriously, not only as a livelihood but also to ensure the future of human existence. Beekeeping is a rewarding venture, but it requires dedication, knowledge, and a willingness to adapt to changing conditions. With the right approach, it can be a sustainable and profitable business.