• Sundarbans honey among ‘Made in India’ gifts for G20 leaders
    Times of India | 15 September 2023
  • Kolkata: Among the gifts handed over to world leaders and international delegates, who visited India for the recent G20 summit, was Sundarbans honey that is marketed by the joint forest management committees under the Bengal forest department.

    The gifts handed over included artefacts that represented India’s traditions and rich cultural heritage. Another product from Bengal that made it to the list was Darjeeling tea. Among other gifts were Kashmiri saffron, Baranasi stole and Araku coffee.

    South 24 Pargans forest division DFO, Milan Mandal, said: “It’s a proud moment for all associated with Sundarbans. The famous Sundarbans honey that comes under the brand name of ‘bonphool’ and is marketed by joint forest management committee has reached the nation heads and other delegates.”

    Under this project, honey is collected in bee boxes kept in jungle camps and later cultivated and sold by locals without taking risk of entering the forest.

    The Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve has more than 30,000+ people living in the four areas of Jharkhali, Kultali, Nalgora and Ramganga. Since their inhospitable surroundings, including high chances of losing their lives to tigers, crocodiles and snakes, provide very less opportunity for any decent livelihood, they regularly enter forests to collect firewood, timber, honey, fish, crabs, sand and mushroom. Several of them are also involved in illegal bush meat hunting.

    Recently, state forest department’s joint forest management committee formed Sundarban Banaraksha Bahumukhi Samabay Samity (SBBSS), which oversees four village level co-operatives to create alternative livelihoods. These SBBSS and JFMC provide platform to existing population to secure loans and start small-scale enterprises like homestays, honey culture, handicrafts, bags, jewellery etc.

    The project was piloted in 2014 by WWF-India.

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