SATKHIRA, Bangladesh — Amid growing concerns over adulterated honey in local markets, a young entrepreneur from Satkhira district is working to promote natural beekeeping by encouraging households to maintain their own beehives.

Saddam Hossain, a resident of Chhupria village in Sadar upazila, has spent the last decade developing a small business focused on producing pure honey through beekeeping. His enterprise, Moumachi Kutir, operates with official approval from the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC), and has installed roughly 200 wooden beehive boxes on rooftops, mosque ledges, institutional buildings, and near gardens across Satkhira.

Using native bee species that typically nest in tree hollows and crevices, Saddam collects honey, bottles it, and sells the product as a natural alternative to commercially available options. His business generates an annual income of Tk 350,000 to Tk 400,000. In addition to his commercial activities, he is training 10 young individuals in beekeeping techniques to promote self-reliance and create new employment opportunities.

“My main goal is to raise awareness about pure honey and make it available to every household,” Saddam said. He envisions a community where each family maintains a beehive, ensuring direct access to nutritious, unadulterated honey. Beyond food production, he highlights the environmental benefits of bees, such as pollination, ecological balance, and rural economic development.

Saddam’s efforts have inspired approximately 80 others in the region to install beehives at their homes and institutions. These individuals report reduced reliance on commercial honey products. Visitors to Saddam’s apiaries have observed the honey collection process firsthand, bolstering confidence in the authenticity of the product. Among them, Mizanur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Kalaroa Police Station, purchased honey and a beehive for his family after witnessing the traditional harvesting.

Local authorities have recognized the initiative’s potential. Gourab Das, deputy manager of BSCIC in Satkhira, called Saddam’s project exemplary and noted that more than 600 registered beekeepers currently operate in the district. Efforts are underway to expand training, provide access to loans, and promote beekeeping particularly in Satkhira’s coastal areas, where environmental challenges linked to climate change underscore the importance of preserving bee populations.

Despite these positive developments, Saddam faces resistance from some orchard owners, primarily jujube cultivators, who worry bees might harm flowers or reduce fruit yields. Saddam contests these concerns, emphasizing that pollinators play an essential role in improving agricultural productivity. He has urged researchers, agricultural officials, and relevant authorities to work together to address misconceptions and encourage cooperation between beekeepers and orchardists.

Jamal Uddin, additional deputy director of Satkhira’s Department of Agricultural Extension, affirmed the benefits of bees for flowers and crops, supporting calls for wider acceptance of beekeeping practices in the region.