Bees are farmed at mint field on Dong Van Karst Plateau. (Photo: tuoitre.vn)
Ha Giang (VNA) – A forum held in Dong Van district, the northern
mountainous province of Ha Giang on October 31 discussed how to branch out bee
farming sustainably to ensure food safety.
Representatives from the National Agricultural Extension Centre and many other
agencies under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shared
experience in beekeeping, information about market prices and honey bee
consumption.
Advanced technology in bee farming, particularly genetic and breeding
preservation, and cultivating techniques for mints, whose flowers are favored
by bees, on Dong Van Karst Plateau, were introduced to the event.
The forum also created opportunities for the state, scientists, businesses and
local beekeepers to hold dialogues to handle challenges when keeping bees.
Ha Thuy Hanh, Deputy Director of the National Agricultural Extension Centre,
said that honey bee farming in the country has developed rapidly. The country
is housing 1.5 million beehives.
Some 90 percent of the honey is sold abroad and the remainder is consumed
domestically, she added.
According to Nguyen Duc Vinh, Director of the provincial Department of
Agriculture and Rural Development, the province’s 34,093 beehives produce over
193 tonnes of honey per year. Bee farming on mint fields is being developed in
four mountainous districts of Dong Van, Meo Vac, Yen Minh and Quan Ba.
Ha Giang’s mint honey was known for its remarkable quality and at certain
times, can fetch 1 million VND per litre. In 2013, the National Office of
Intellectual Property granted Meo Vac Geographical Indication (GI) for the mint
honey product made in the four districts.
Mint honey product has been grown in stature among consumers. Beekeeping has
helped ethnic people residing on Dong Van Karst Plateau alleviate poverty, he
said.-VNA