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 northernmountainous province of Ha Giang on October 31 discussed how to branch out beefarming sustainably to ensure food safety.
Representatives from the National Agricultural Extension Centre and many otheragencies under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development sharedexperience in beekeeping, information about market prices and honey beeconsumption.
Advanced technology in bee farming, particularly genetic and breedingpreservation, and cultivating techniques for mints, whose flowers are favoredby bees, on Dong Van Karst Plateau, were introduced to the event.
The forum also created opportunities for the state, scientists, businesses andlocal 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 countryis housing 1.5 million beehives.
Some 90 percent of the honey is sold abroad and the remainder is consumeddomestically, she added.
According to Nguyen Duc Vinh, Director of the provincial Department ofAgriculture and Rural Development, the province’s 34,093 beehives produce over193 tonnes of honey per year. Bee farming on mint fields is being developed infour 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 certaintimes, can fetch 1 million VND per litre. In 2013, the National Office ofIntellectual Property granted Meo Vac Geographical Indication (GI) for the minthoney product made in the four districts.
Mint honey product has been grown in stature among consumers. Beekeeping hashelped ethnic people residing on Dong Van Karst Plateau alleviate poverty, hesaid.-VNA
VNA
