Karak
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Agriculture Major® Muhammad Sajjad Barakwal has laid the foundation stone of the Honey Processing Unit and International Quality Testing Laboratory at Agriculture Research Station Karak under a Development Project to promote honey production for economic improvement in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
On this occasion, the Minister of Agriculture, while praising the efforts of the experts of the Agricultural Research Institute, said that under this project, not only the production of indigenous honey will be promoted in the province, but also a quality facility will be provided to the local beekeepers, honey traders and exporters. Furthermore, the Minister directed the Forest Department to provide more opportunities for planting plum trees in Karak district so that honey production can further improve.
Barakwal, while issuing further instructions, said that agricultural research scientists should conduct further research to promote better honey production in potential areas of the province.
On this occasion, Director Agricultural Research (Merged Districts) Muhammad Younas explained the objectives of the project, stating that beekeeping is one of the important income generating and poverty alleviation activities. Because it provides a stable and sustainable source of income that enables landowners to permanently lift themselves out of poverty by providing better living conditions and opportunities for their families. Beekeeping is the art of raising and managing bees for the purpose of obtaining honey. Beekeepers earn their livelihood not only by producing honey but also by producing other products such as royal jelly, propolis, pollen, wax and bee venom for medicinal purposes. It also plays an important role in the pollination of crops, fruits and vegetables. Most of the beekeeping practices are concentrated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Karak Bir (Sidar) Honey is among the best honey in the world.
There are about 300-400 local beekeepers and traders while 2500-3000 beekeepers from other districts are engaged in the honey production and marketing in Karak district. The province has rich vegetation and suitable climate for honey production. Honey produced in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province is not only being consumed in the country but also has high demand in international markets, from which substantial foreign exchange can be earned.
