Shiva Raj Bhatta

Dhangadi, March 22:

Bee farmers in Kailali district are facing a difficult situation as they fail to get a proper market for their produce. At present, farmers are being forced to stock honey at their homes.

Farmers complain that though beekeeping is a good profession, lack of a proper market has created a huge problem. Nara Bahadur Tamang of Bee Source Centre of Jugeda Kailali, has 90 hives. One hive can yield 20 to 25 kgs of honey each year. If harvested twice a year, Tamang can get 45 quintals of honey each year. But Tamang harvests only once a year, due to the lack of market. Tamang explained, “The market price of honey in other districts is Rs 200 per kg, but here traders pay us only Rs 150 to Rs 160 for per kg of honey”. Despite selling the produce at a lower price, he has a stock of 10 quintals at home. “Lack of market for honey is threatening our very profession”, he added.

Nara Bahadur said sale of beehive was more lucrative than sale of honey at present. “One hive with bees costs Rs 6,000 and I have so far sold 60 hives of bees”. “One beehive have two to three queen bees each year. Farmers can get at least 40 to 50 bee nests during the months of Chaitra and Baishakh. This is the time when the queen starts a new colony”, Tamang informed. Tamang claimed he could double bee nests from his current 90, within the coming two months. Tamang began bee keeping with five hives that the Bee Development Section and Agriculture Development Office provided at a promotional price which was half of the original price. At present, he has 90 hives placed in his courtyard.

“The government and companies like Dabur are buying honey from farmers in eastern Nepal. The government should open a honey collection centre in the far-west region too”, Tamang demanded. Lack of a proper market has not only troubled Tamang but also 20 other farmers like him, leaving hundreds of quintals of honey unsold. Tamang said beekeeping could have become the first choice for unemployed village youths if only there was a guarantee of a proper return. It is said that each year, there were about 400 beehives at Jugeda region and the annual honey production of Kailali was around 200 quintals.