A honey processing plant will be set up at Maromar in tiger reserve Palamu, which falls under latehar district said sources.
Sources said the honey processing plant will change the face of economy of the tribals and non-tribals, who are engaged in honey business.
A proposal to this effect was sent to the State Government in 2012. It took 3 years to send the fund.
DFO Core of the tiger reserve Palamu Anil Kumar Mishra has confirmed the plan of setting up honey processing plant at Maromar. He also confirmed the receipt of fund for this.
Sources said the whole cost may come around `17 to `18 lakh. Tribals and non-tribals of Maromar, Henaar, Surkumi Armu and Abok villages are involved in honey collection.
51 people have so far got training in honey culture. 27 more are waiting to get training in honey culture.
Honey collection is still very rudimentary. First the bee hive is spotted. Then a column of thick smoke is raised. It is done so to drive away the bees. The fire for smoke sometimes goes uncontrolled and causes damages to trees shrubs and other biodiversity there.
Sources said the honey collector in sheer haste cut off branches and trees too.
Mishra agreeing to these ill effects of traditional method of honey collection said the tribals and non-tribals will now get advanced instrument to collect honey like gloves, boxes for bees and clothes where stings of bees can’t pierce body. Smoke will now be an out thing he added.
A raw honey is sold between `100 to `125 a kilogram. However, once the honey processing plant starts functioning there will come pure and refined honey, which will bring in more cash to honey traders in these villages like Maromar, Surkumi, Henar, etc.
On being asked as to why people of Maromar are so keen to pursue this honey business, Mishra said, “Here are abundance of flowers of saal trees. The bees find it convenient to suck these flowers.”
Additional PCCF ( development) YK Singh Chouhan and senior IFS officer Syed Ehtesham Hussain Kazmi recently reached Maromar and talked to people
at Maromar.
The two senior IFS officers have given a go ahead signal to honey processing plant, which will certify the honey for its better and effective marketing to enable people to earn more money, reiterated DFO Core Mishra.
