--By Suraksha Adhikari 

 

The value and importance of bees and honey have increased these days and beekeeping has became an entrepreneurial enterprise that has drawn many farmers towards it. Demand for honey has been increasing in Nepal and corresponding to it, its production is also rapidly increasing. Commercial beekeeping is becoming a reliable source of income-generation for some Nepali farmers. 

 

“In the beginning of this business, one can earn Rs 5,000 per year. This income goes on increasing in the later years,” said Raju Khatiwada, Proprieter of Namaste Mount Everest Honey Pvt Ltd.  Khatiwada has been earning Rs 800,000 annually from 200 beehives. “Initial cost of a hive is Rs 5,000 to 6,000. People may think this as low income, but as years pass by, the profit keeps increasing,” Khatiwada added. Apart from buying beehives, which is a capital expenditure, other running expenditures are nominal and in the second year of the business, Khatiwada said that a profit of around Rs 15,000 could be gained.

 

However, for commercial beekeeping, an entrepreneur needs to make initial investment of around Rs 400,000, according to Ganesh Basnet, President of Center of Nepal Bee-Keeping Cooperatives Association said. He explained, “Commercial beekeeping should be started with at least 40 – 50 hives, as beehives have to be taken to different places for grazing and transportation expenses are the same whether you have 20 hives or 30 or 50.” ”

 

Profit Generation

Beekeeping business promises double profit to its entrepreneur within two years of starting the business. Nepal has favourable climate for bee keeping from Hilly to Terai region. Lately, commercial bee keeping is being done in the districts like Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Kaski, Palpa, Parbat, Kailali, Jumla, Sarlahi, Makwanpur, Jhapa, Sunsari, Morang, Surkhet, Kavre, Dang and Pyuthan. Bees are an important part of pollination. While they collect honey, they also play this important role of a pollinator that helps in the reproduction of plants and ultimately in maintaining ecological balance. 

 

Estimates claim that Nepal has around 140,000 to 160,000 hives. Among them around 35,000 hives are Melifera and rest belong to the Serena species, according to Dharma Raj Shrestha, President of Center for Bee Keeping Association Nepal. Entrepreneurs claim that comparatively, Melifera breed is capable of producing more amount of honey in short span of time. Other honeybee species found in Nepal are Himalayan bee, Kathyauri and Ghar Mauri.

 

Demand Exceeding Production

Honey entrepreneurs in Nepal have not been able to cater to the increasing demand of honey. Shrestha said Nepali market’s annual demand for honey is around four million kg. But government statistics show that only 1.6 million kg of honey is being produced annually in Nepal. Cooperatives have been playing crucial role in the development of the honey industry. “Around Rs 1.4 billion has already been invested in the bee keeping business conducted under cooperatives,” Basnet said. 

 

The commercial bee keeping in Nepal started from 2051 B.S. with the initiation of late King Birendra following his visit to Europe. According to  Basnet among total honey produced in Nepal almost half amount is contributed by cooperatives.

 

“Demand for honey from educated families who understand the importance of honey is increasing,” Basnet said adding that demand for honey from companies producing Ayurvedic medicines has also been increasing. 

 

Lack of Laboratory 

Nepal is rich in biodiversity, our bees feed on the nectar of flowers and fruits that are not available in many parts of the world but producers are finding it remarkably difficult to meet international standards. There is lack of proper laboratory for the verification of the quality of produced honey. Department of Food Technology and Quality Control (DFTQC) has been testing the quality of honey but honey verified by this department can’t be exported in international market as its certificate is still not accepted by many importing countries, said the entrepreneurs. 

 

They said, “The honey produced in Nepalis organic and its demand can highly increase in Nepal if the verification problem is sorted out.” Shrestha said, “Nepal government is not showing concern for promoting this business.” He complains that various government institutions have been approving the distribution of honey without proper investigating its quality and adds that reasons like this have been rendering beekeeping business unsustainable. 

 

Problems and Challenges

Honey producers have realized that they have the potential of creating lucrative niche markets overseas through branding Nepali honey as ‘organic honey’, ‘Himalayan honey’ and ‘honey from the highlands’ but have been hindered in doing so due to existing set backs in the sector. Entrepreneurs claim beekeeping is yet to establish itself a commercial profession. Lack of proper technical knowledge in prospective beekeepers is another factor that has hindered the business from flourishing in Nepal. Inability to develop new species of honeybees and lack of a government regulatory body in the form of Honey Development Board, has been hindering the sector from flourishing. Presently the sector has been coordinated by cooperatives and establishment of a regulatory body is thought to be a crucial factor for giving it headway. 

 

“Though the government has introduced the  policy of ‘Bee-keeping for Livelihood’, it is not enough for the commercial expansion of this business,” Shrestha said.“Commercial beekeeping can be conceptualized as prosperous business sector for the promotion and development of this sector,” he added. He claimed that lack of proper policy facilitating commercial beekeeping has hindered honey exports to potential international market. 

 

 

Steps to be taken

The most important initiative to establish the honey industry is to make beekeeping entrepreneurial. Though production capacity is steadily growing, there is a need for establishing a consulting mechanism and to prepare an action that would ensure that prospective beekeepers can easily access latest technology and resources for expanding their business. 

 

Providing training on beekeeping and production of hives, tools and providing consultation services on the safety of bees, honey production, storage, processing would attract youths for getting involved in this sector and get self-employed.