The Bank of Punjab (BoP) plans to extend loans to farmers engaged in bee-keeping activities in the NWFP, to help increase honey production in Pakistan. According to BoP officials, the bank had prepared a scheme for bee-keeping and the disbursement of loans in this sector would start soon. They said that the BoP would extend agriculture loans worth Rs 5 billion to growers in Punjab and other parts of the country with an ultimate aim of making the country self-sufficient in its food and fibre needs.

The flavour of honey depends mainly on the tree or plant from whose pollens nectar has been extracted by the bee. From the hills of Swat to the plains of central Punjab, bee farms flourish and bees suck nectar from different flora, fruit blossoms, flowers of medicinal herbs and vegetation -thus producing different varieties of honey.

Some of the different varieties available in the country, include honey derived from 'beri', orange, mango, apple, pear.

Copyright Associated Press of Pakistan, 2005