Ashik's Bee Farm

About

Ashikur Rahman Ashik (16), son of day labourer Abu Kalam of Alipur village in Durgapur upazila, Rajshahi, left school in class eight because of poverty. On his brother-in-law's advice he took a Tk 50,000 NGO loan, bought bee boxes and began beekeeping without any formal training. Starting with 10 boxes, he now has over 100, set in three fields in two villages. He began with local bees and later brought in a Chinese bee strain that collects more honey. In the mustard season the boxes yield three and a half to four maunds of honey every ten days, and honey sales bring in Tk 45,000–50,000 a month. Mustard honey sells at Tk 600 a kg retail and Tk 400–450 wholesale, and many buyers come to the field to buy. When the mustard season ends he moves the hives to Dinajpur and Rangpur to collect lychee, black cumin and coriander-flower honey. The report says many people in the area have set up honey farms following his example.

Products and services

• Mustard honey

  Tk 400–600 / kg

  Tk 600 a kg retail, Tk 400–450 a kg wholesale; also sold in the field

• Lychee, black cumin and coriander-flower honey

  Collected in Dinajpur and Rangpur after the mustard season; black cumin and coriander honey fetch more than mustard honey

Prices as given by the owner; ask before you buy.

Address and hours

To learn or to work here

• Visitors welcome