PTI Government's Billion Trees Project Revitalizes Honey Sector In KP

Billions Trees Afforestation Project (BTAP), a flagship project of PTI government under which over one billion trees have been planted during last four years in KP, has revitalized the dwindling beekeeping and honey sector in the province.

PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd Oct, 2018 ) :Billions Trees Afforestation Project (BTAP), a flagship project of PTI government under which over one billion trees have been planted during last four years in KP, has revitalized the dwindling beekeeping and honey sector in the province.

The All Pakistan Beekeepers Exporters and Honey Traders Association (APBE&HTA) here Tuesday lauded BTAP and termed it a successful endeavour of government, which had helped in revival of honey business in the province.

"We are thankful to Prime Minister Imran Khan for launching of 'BTAP and Plant for Pakistan Projects under 'Green Pakistan' initiative as these projects have significantly helped in revitalization of the beekeeping and honey production in the country," said Salim Khan, President of (APBE&HTA) told APP during an exclusive interview.

"I assure you that beekeeping sector can't survive without raising of forests and quality honey would be produced only after plantation of native trees in the country," he said.

Salim Khan urged the government to focus on plantation of native species like Palosa and Shisham being major sources of food for honeybees in hilly areas of KP and Punjab during Plant for Pakistan and BTAP projects in future.

He said forests areas in KP have increased manifolds during last five years, making positive socio-economic effects on lives of beekeepers. "More people are now coming to join this business, which is a good omen for honey producers in the country." Salim Khan said around eight lakh people are associated with beekeeping and proper financial package and incentives were required to take honey business to new heights.

Khan recalled the heavy losses suffered by beekeepers due to devastated floods in 2010 and unrest in Malakand and Fata in the past. "My 3000 bees farms were washed by the 2010 floods as no financial support was provided to me by the then govt," he complained.

He suggested special financial package for beekeepers who suffered heavy losses in 2010 or due to unrest in Malakand and Fata besides special training to young beekeepers regarding marketing, packing and expansion of their businesses at national and international level.

Salim Khan said the government financial help for purchase of machinery is vital for saving honey during purification process of honeycombs and lives of honeybees.

He said sale of honey in green cans were banned by the Food and Halal Authority and we have no other option but to purchase new white cans for its transportation. "The price of one can in local market is around Rs600. At least 700,000 new cans would be required to replace the green cans," he said.

He said six months deadline has been given to beekeepers for replacement of all the green cans with white one.

He said Pakistan is one of the leading honey exports country as its 'Beera' honey is being liked worldwide especially in in Gulf countries including UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Salim Khan said BTAP has greatly helped in revival of beekeeping and honey sector in southern districts of KP during last five years and thanked Prime Minister Imran Khan for starting yet another 'Plant for Pakistan' project that would help promote forestry and honey sectors in the country.

Project Director BTAP, Muhammad Tehmasip told APP that under Plant for Pakistan initiative, a total of 10 billion saplings including two billion in KP would be planted during next five years in Pakistan.

He confirmed that BTAP had increased total forests covered area of KP, which was only 20.3pc in 2013 to record 26.6percent in 2017 in the province.

As many as 400 million plants were planted on private lands by Forest Department with the help of community organizations, farmers, NGOs, and general public while 600 million raised through forests enclosures in different districts with over 85pc survival rate.

As result of BTAP, over 600,000 hectares of forests had been restored in KP, immensely helping fighting climate change and global warming besides sequestering forest carbon of over 0.04Giga ton of CO2.

He said Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Council (SUPARCO) in its initial report have confirmed 80 percent positive detection in plantation areas and 70 percent detection in forests enclosures in different divisions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under BTAP.

SUPARCO has issued the report after comparing satellite images of last five years, confirming the said positive detection in forests, which was matter of great pride for Forest Department, he remarked.

He recalled that work on BTAP was formally started after inauguration of Green Growth Initiative (GGI) on February 9, 2014 on the recommendations of task force chaired by former chief minister KP Pervez Khatak.

The Task Force constituted by PTI government has identified six sectors for work including forests, protected areas, clean energy, waste management, climate resilience and water sanitation in KP and the Forest Department was assigned the gigantic task of planting one billion trees in the province.

These massive plantations under BTAP were monitored through a Third Party validation ie WWF that endorsed 125pc achievements besides receiving appreciation certificates from BONN Challenge, IUCN and World Economic Forum and membership from Asian Protected Areas Partnership. COP (Conference of Parties) 21 Organization that works under UN had declared KP overall best that was great honour for Pakistan.