Bangladesh: How beekeeping can boost rooftop gardening
Maintaining bee colonies in man-made beehives is an awe-inspiring idea, but is it worth the time and effort?
By Abu Azad
TBS News
19 August, 2023
Excerpt:
Mainul Anwar notes that among five types of bees in Bangladesh, Apis cerana are easy to rear in rooftop gardens. His initiative offers a Tk7,000-10,000 package, including a bee house, frames, 10,000 bees, and training. Alwan Honey Research Centre ensures bee care for four months.
Besides Chattogram, beekeeping is going on at rooftop gardens in Dhaka’s Mirpur and Jatrabari.
According to Dr Mohammad Omar Farooq Russel, an associate professor in the Department of Botany at Chittagong University, “The concept of rooftop beekeeping is innovative. To ensure the success of rooftop beekeeping, it’s advisable to cultivate a diverse range of plants that can coexist harmoniously. This approach helps prevent potential food shortages for the bees.”
The rooftop garden of SS Fashion Wear, a green factory, in the port city’s Raufabad area now thrives thanks to Mainul Anwar’s beekeeping concept. Shahjahan Liton, MD of SS Fashion, initiated the garden, only to find its flowers lacked pollination, hindering growth.
With the help of Mainul Anwar, SS Fashion commenced beekeeping in March, resulting in abundant flowers, growing fruits and a swift honey harvest. Liton is pleased with the positive outcomes yielded within a short timeframe.
