Disease outbreaks, pesticide use push beekeeping business into crisis

JHAPA: Beekeeping, once a thriving source of income for farmers in Jhapa, is facing a growing crisis due to recurring disease outbreaks, indiscriminate pesticide use and difficulties in marketing honey, threatening the livelihoods of commercial beekeepers.

Devi Kumari Dahal of Shivasatakshi Municipality-11, popularly known as the ‘Bee Sister’, has lost 150 beehives to disease, leaving her with only 50 colonies.

Dahal began commercial beekeeping 18 years ago with a group, starting with just two hives and an investment of Rs 1,000. Her enterprise gradually expanded to as many as 900 hives, enabling her to produce around 10,000 kilograms of pure honey annually and earn up to Rs 3 million.

Despite receiving the Presidential Award for her contribution to beekeeping, Dahal now finds it increasingly difficult to sustain the business as disease outbreaks and market-related challenges continue to erode her investment.