Survey for collection of local honey in Chhattisgarh

Introduction

Honey is a natural sweet substance produced by honey bees (Apis spp.) from the nectar of flowering plants. It is among the oldest natural food products consumed by humans and is widely recognized for its nutritional, medicinal, and economic significance. In addition to being a rich source of carbohydrates, honey contains small quantities of proteins, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and other bioactive compounds that contribute to its health-promoting properties. Owing to these characteristics, honey is extensively used in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries (Codex Alimentarius Commission, 2001; Bogdanov et al., 2008; Escuredo et al., 2014) [4,1,6] . India is one of the major honey-producing countries, owing to its rich floral diversity, favourable climatic conditions, and wide range of honey bee species. Scientific beekeeping not only increases honey production but also contributes to crop pollination, biodiversity conservation, and the improvement of rural livelihoods. Government initiatives, including the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM), have further supported the development of honey production, quality enhancement, and marketing systems across the country (Klein et al., 2007; FAO, 2022; National Bee Board, 2023) [10,7,11] . Chhattisgarh is characterized by extensive forest resources, rich floral diversity, and a large tribal population traditionally engaged in wild honey collection. The varied agro-climatic conditions of the state provide favourable habitats for honey bees and support the production of local honey in several districts. However, systematic information on the geographical distribution and documentation of locally available honey remains limited. Therefore, survey-based studies are essential for identifying honey-producing areas, documenting representative honey samples, and generating baseline information for future research and the sustainable utilization of honey resources (Forest Survey of India, 2021; Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce Federation, 2022). In view of these considerations, the present study was undertaken to conduct a systematic survey for the collection of local honey samples from different districts of Chhattisgarh. The information generated through this survey will contribute to the documentation of regional honey resources and provide a scientific basis for future research on honey diversity, geographical distribution, and the promotion of locally produced honey.

Materials and methods

• Study area

The present investigation was conducted during 2023-24 with the objective of surveying and collecting local honey samples from various districts of Chhattisgarh, India. The survey covered thirteen districts, namely Surguja, Surajpur, Balrampur, Jashpur, Raigarh, Sakti, Korba, Korea, Bilaspur, Kanker, Narayanpur, Bijapur, and Bastar. These districts were selected to represent the major geographical regions of the state where locally produced honey is available, considering the diverse forest ecosystems and agro-climatic conditions of Chhattisgarh.

• Survey and collection of honey samples

A field survey was conducted in the selected districts to collect representative samples of locally produced honey. During the survey, one local honey sample weighing 500 g was collected from each district. In addition, four branded honey samples-Dabur, Patanjali, C.G. Herbal Honey, and C.G. Maikals Natural Honey-were procured from authorized local dealers for comparative analysis. All honey samples were collected in clean, dry, and sterilized glass bottles to minimize the risk of contamination during handling and transportation. Each sample was appropriately labelled with the corresponding district or brand name and date of collection. Following collection, the samples were transported to the Mini Honey Quality Testing Laboratory at the Raj Mohini Devi College of Agriculture and Research Station, Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh, where they were stored under suitable laboratory conditions until further analysis.

• Sampling details A total of seventeen honey samples were examined in the present study, including thirteen locally collected samples obtained from different districts of Chhattisgarh and four commercially available branded samples. Sampling was carried out during 2023-24 using a systematic approach to ensure adequate representation of the state's diverse geographical regions. Comprehensive records of the surveyed districts, collection sites, and sampling dates were maintained throughout the study to facilitate accurate identification and traceability of each honey sample.

Results and Discussion

During 2023-24, a systematic field survey was undertaken to collect local honey samples from selected districts of Chhattisgarh. The survey included thirteen districts: Surguja, Surajpur, Balrampur, Jashpur, Raigarh, Sakti, Korba, Korea, Bilaspur, Kanker, Narayanpur, Bijapur, and Bastar. These districts were selected to obtain representative honey samples reflecting the major geographical regions of the state. A comparable approach was also reported by Painkra et al. (2021) [12] . The survey yielded thirteen local honey samples, with one representative sample collected from each selected district. Additionally, four commercially marketed honey brands-Dabur, Patanjali, C.G. Herbal Honey, and C.G. Maikals Natural Honey-were obtained from authorized local dealers for comparative evaluation. Consequently, seventeen honey samples were included in the investigation. The survey documented the geographical distribution of honey sample collection across the selected districts of Chhattisgarh. Before the samples were transported, each sample was appropriately labelled with its place and date of collection and subsequently transferred to the Mini Honey Quality Testing Laboratory at the Raj Mohini Devi College of Agriculture and Research Station, Ambikapur, for further analysis. Proper documentation and traceability are essential for maintaining the integrity, authenticity, and reliability of honey samples throughout laboratory investigations (Government Chemist, 2023; Codex Alimentarius Commission, 2001) [4] . The details of the surveyed districts, collection locations and sampling dates are presented in Table 1. The survey confirmed the availability of local honey in all selected districts, demonstrating the widespread occurrence of honey production across the diverse agro-climatic regions of Chhattisgarh. District-wise collection of honey samples ensured broad geographical representation and provided a reliable baseline for documenting local honey resources within the state. The systematic collection and documentation of these samples also established a reference dataset for future studies on regional honey diversity and quality assessment. Similar emphasis on the systematic documentation and evaluation of honey resources has been reported by (Crane, 1990; Codex Alimentarius Commission, 2001) [4] . The inclusion of branded honey samples alongside locally collected honey provided a comparative sample set for subsequent laboratory investigations. Appropriate sampling, labelling, and handling procedures ensured the traceability of all honey samples throughout the study. Similar emphasis on proper sampling and sample handling has been reported by the (Codex Alimentarius Commission, 1993; Government Chemist, 2023).

Conclusion

The present survey confirmed the widespread availability of locally produced honey across various districts of Chhattisgarh and established a systematic baseline for future honey-related research in the state. The documented sampling details provide a valuable reference for investigating geographical variation, honey authentication, and quality assessment. Moreover, the findings emphasize the importance of organized honey sample collection in scientific research and may support future initiatives for the conservation, promotion, and value addition of locally produced honey in Chhattisgarh.

References

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