Honey and Dates production would prove a Modern Path for Sindh’s Economy
- In Sweden, many people set up small honey farms at home, produce honey, and sell it.
By Abdullah Usman Morai | Sweden
One day, after finishing office work, a colleague of mine in Stockholm, who is an engineer, came up to me and asked, “Do you want honey?”
Surprised, I asked him, “Yes, but where did you get this honey from?” He explained that his father had started producing honey at home, and now they had so much that they couldn’t consume it all. So, they had decided to sell it.
I asked him about the price, which he told me. Then, following the traditional bargaining instinct, I asked, “If I take two, how much will it cost?” He laughed and replied, “I’ll give you two for the price of one.” We both laughed heartily at that.
The point is that in Sweden, many people set up small honey farms at home, produce honey, and sell it. Its taste varies from region to region because of different flowers. When people travel to other areas, they often bring back local honey as a gift. Sometimes, when traveling along countryside roads, you see boards outside homes advertising honey or eggs for sale. You simply pick up what you want, transfer the money directly to their account via mobile phone, and move on. The seller and buyer often never see each other; the entire business runs on trust.
I believe that in Sindh, too, we can produce honey in this way, and it can become a lucrative business, just like dates.
Sindh has always held importance because of its agricultural production and ancient history. Its climate and environmental conditions are extremely suitable for two particular products: honey and dates. Some regions of Sindh are already known for honey production and date orchards. Unfortunately, we have not yet fully utilized these natural resources. What we need now is to modernize and develop these industries so they can give Sindh’s economy a new direction and create new employment opportunities for young people.
Honey and dates can become major sources of income. The hard work behind honey production and date farming plays a vital role in our economy. Yet, most honeybee hives and date orchards are still managed with traditional methods, resulting in low production and quality that does not meet international market standards.
The example of my colleague in Sweden proves that even small-scale honey production can be turned into a successful business. But in Sindh, there are many hurdles. For instance, we are still using centuries-old methods that limit production. There is no modern technology for packaging and storage, which leads to large amounts of waste. Moreover, our products remain restricted to local markets, with no strategy to export them internationally.
To address these problems, some important steps need to be taken. Modern technology and scientific methods should be used for honey production. Young people should be trained in advanced beekeeping techniques. Better packaging and branding of honey and dates must be emphasized. We need to produce goods that meet international standards so they can be sold in global markets. Most importantly, the government and private institutions must work together to provide technical training to youth in this sector. This would allow them to start new businesses and generate employment.
In conclusion, modernizing the honey and date industries presents a great opportunity for Sindh’s economy. It is not just about agricultural progress; it can also bring employment and prosperity. If we adopt new and modern methods alongside our traditional practices, Sindh’s honey and dates can earn a new recognition in international markets. Taking this industry forward is our shared responsibility.
Read: Digital Media Polarizes the Society
______________________
Abdullah Soomro, penname Abdullah Usman Morai, hailing from Moro town of Sindh, province of Pakistan, is based in Stockholm Sweden. Currently he is working as Groundwater Engineer in Stockholm Sweden. He did BE (Agriculture) from Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam and MSc water systems technology from KTH Stockholm Sweden as well as MSc Management from Stockholm University. Beside this he also did masters in journalism and economics from Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur Mirs, Sindh. He is author of a travelogue book named ‘Musafatoon’. His second book is in process. He writes articles from time to time. A frequent traveler, he also does podcast on YouTube with channel name: VASJE Podcast.
Courtesy: The AsiaN, Seoul, South Korea
