Balasore: At a time when farmers in the state look away from agriculture, deeming it unprofitable, Sarbeswar Pati, a farmer of Remuna area in Balasore district, has set an example for others by taking up bee-keeping. Inspired by him, many others in the district have taken up bee-keeping as a calling.
He has been earning over a lakh of rupees every year from apiary while his 18 acres of farmland, which lie uncultivated due to litigations, fetch him nothing.
With his earnings from bee keeping, Pati manages his family of 12. He produces five quintals of honey per annum.
A resident of Mayurigaon in Badapal panchayat, Pati has been carrying out honey business without any financial help from bank or financial institution. “I have not invested much in it. All that I have done is that I have made proper utilization of my time,” he added.
It was in 1980 when he developed interest in honey farming. Before taking it up, Sarbeswar had received a 7-day training on apiary from the State Khadi Board.
Since then, he has never looked back. “Honey harvest optimal between December and June. But honey boxes need to be set up in the forests with more flowers and blooms,” he added.
He has set up honey boxes in some forests of Balasore and Mayurbhanj district, particularly in areas like Ratanpur, Kuanmara, Arpata, Palasa, Kumarpada and Nusahi. These areas are full of mangos, arjun, karanja, hindal, pattas trees. Besides, mustard and coriander cultivation is done here.
“A kg of honey is sold for Rs 250 in the market while the produce of branded companies is sold for Rs 550 to Rs 700. Balasore Honey Society under Khadi Board procures honey from farmers for Rs 150,” he added. If the Khadi Board hikes the price of honey, more and more youths will be interested in honey production, Pati suggested. He added, as an incentive, the board supplies 10 honey boxes to farmers.
That apart, Sarbeswar also sells honey boxes along with queen bees for Rs 600. “A farmer can earn at least Rs 1.40 lakh per annum if he keeps and maintains 70 boxes,” Pati said.
Now, inspired by Pati, several other people of his village – Sarbeswar Majhi and Jayant Panda—have started apiary.
Sarbeswar’s 88-year old father Ratnakar Pati says,”Seeing the interest of my son, I had encouraged him to do this work. I am happy that he is managing his own family, apart from imparting training to others.”
Bee keeping is gradually picking up in various parts of the district.
“There are 440 registered honey farmers in the district while 750 are unregistered,” said Samarendra Nayak, president of Balasore honey farmers’ cooperative society.
The government of India has invited him to a workshop on honey farming at Pune. PNN
