PESHAWAR: Participants of a meeting held here on Wednesday agreed to promote honey business and beekeeping in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and formally recognize honey processing, packaging and value addition as an industry. .
According to a handout, the meeting was held under the chairmanship of Special Assistant to Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for Industry and Trade Abdul Karim. Secretary Industries, Commerce and Technical Education Department Aamir Afaq, Special Secretary Anwar Khan, Small Industries Development Board (SIDB) Managing Director Habibullah Arif, Chief Planning Officer Basit Khalil, Project Director of Bees and Honey Sector participated in the meeting. of Department of Science and Technology Nadia Khan, KPBOIT Deputy Manager Gul Muhammad, Deputy MDSIDB Nauman Fayyaz, representatives of Samida and officials of Beekeepers Association including Sher Zaman Mohmand, Gul Badshah and Other
Several proposals from the beekeepers’ association were discussed and the forum assured its support. Stakeholders presented their views on beekeeping business development at the local level and on honey packaging, value addition and other aspects of honey production to develop the sector.
The issues raised by the representatives of the business sector were also discussed in the meeting. A briefing provided by the Project Director of Bees and Honey Sector of the Department of Science and Technology highlighted that Pakistan exports $8.3 million annually from this sector, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa accounting for about 1 million people directly and indirectly employed in this business. Additionally, around 20,000 people are registered in the honey business in the province.
The representatives of the beekeeping association told the meeting that the district of Kirk alone generates a business of Rs 6 billion annually from this sector and prioritizing it will further develop the industry in the province.
It was decided in the meeting that a joint meeting of all concerned institutions and departments will be held on January 13, in which a comprehensive plan for further action will be made covering all areas of responsibility. The participants directed the SIDB to conduct a feasibility study for honey price hike and related requirements.
Additionally, it was assured that an expo on honey would be organized in Peshawar. The meeting also agreed to develop modules for training beekeepers in various trades and provide training through technical institutes under the Industries Department. The Special Assistant said that beekeeping and honey business are uniquely important production sectors for the province which hold a significant place in the country.