JALALABAD (Pajhwok): A newly created artificial forest of berry trees is about to bear fruit, local Agriculture Department officials said on Wednesday.
With growing artificial berry forests, honey production will also increase and apiculturists will not be in need to shift their bee-hives to neighboring Pakistan.
Some apiculturists in Nangarhar say such artificial forests in other parts of the province will help them keep their bees easily.
Ajmal Sobhani, Agriculture Department spokesman, told Pajhwok Afghan News beekeepers needed such forests for their bees and to address the issue, more artificial forests must be created in Nangarhar.
The agriculture department has created an artificial berry forest on 60 hectares of land in Koz Kunar district of the province, which is about to bear fruit in near future.
About 57,000 berry saplings were planted on the land while 50,000 of them were being irrigated by dripping system. Additional to berry, 8,000 ornamental trees were also planted in that area to attract tourists.
A 100 member beekeepers’ union has also been formed in Nangarhar and 40 of them were given apiculture related equipment. Some of them admitted they needed to shift their bee hives to Pakistan due to the lack of more forests and gardens with flowers in some seasons of the year.
Riaz Ahmad Rodwal, head of the beekeepers union, told Pajhwok the creation of such artificial forests will help them not to be in need of shifting their bee hives to other countries.
Noorullah, another farmer in Batikot district, said more facilities have been created in the country for their business and they can shift their bee-hives from one place into another, but in some cases they have no option than sending their bees to Khyber Pakhtukhwa province.
“If more such forests are created in the country, they will not only help in increasing the production of honey but will reduce the price of honey in the markets,” he said.
Apiculturists produced about 500 metric tonnes of honey last year and officials expect 600 metric tonnes of honey this year.
Aw/ma
