GARDEZ (PAN): Beekeepers in southeastern Paktia province have been able to increase honey production and maintain a high quality because of the availability of different flowers and the longer seasons, but they lack access to foreign markets and face a lukewarm response at home.
Ajmal Ahmadzai, who has been in the business over the past five years, said there was no processing facility for honey in the province.
He alleged some beekeepers compromised the quality of honey by mixing low quality honey with good quality one.
The Honey Traders Association chief, Eng. Bahai Jan, said the harvest, which hovered between 10 and 15 tonnes two years ago, had increased to 50 tonnes.
He said the government had not provided beekeepers with the assistance they needed, except a few hives, training courses and medicine.
Agriculture and Livestock Director Niaz Mohammad Lalai Zadran said his department had tried its level best to find foreign market for honey produced in Paktia, but to no avail.
He said no chance had been missed to put on display honey produced in Paktia at exhibitions across the country. He said some provinces had been brought modern technology for beekeeping, but Paktia remained deprived of that facility.
Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries representatives in Paktia acknowledged that honey production had increased in Paktia amid lack of market.
The chamber’s head for Paktia, Abdul Nasir Elamyar, said he planned to showcase locally produced honey at foreign exhibitions and that currently he was in contact with the Afghan ambassador to Kuwait in this regard.
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