ASSESSMENT OF THE EXISTING STATUS OF THE BEEKEEPING SUB-SECTOR IN THE DANG DISTRICT, NEPAL

Abstract

The study highlighted the existing status of the beekeeping sub-sector in the Dang district. Out of 150 commercial bee growers, 61 beekeepers from Ghorahi, Tulsipur sub-metropolitan city, and Banglachuli Rural Municipality were selected based on a proportionate stratified random sampling method. Data were gathered through a structured questionnaire, personal interviews, focus group discussions, and key informant surveys and analyzed using descriptive statistics and scaling techniques. Results showed that 82% of Beekeepers use modern hives, and 18% still use traditional hives. Also, 77% of respondents were commercially rearing Apis mellifera, and 18% were rearing Apis cerana. The production of honey was increasing in modern hives due to the adoption of improved management practices, whereas production from traditional hives was fluctuating due to a lack of improved management practices. Overall, 80.3% of the respondents were expanding their beekeeping enterprise as a good source of income. A few respondents, i.e., 19%, were decreasing their enterprise due to the shortage of forage and other constraints. Analysis revealed that the unavailability of Bee forage for the whole season was the major constraint of beekeeping with a 0.89 index value, followed by pests and predators with a 0.88 index value. Also, Predatory Birds were found as the major predator and pest with a 0.86 index value, followed by mites with a 0.76 index value. Growing beekeeping trend for income faces obstacles, including forage, pests, and sales infrastructure, requiring management improvement. Publishing of this paper sponsored by the Obeng Prime LLC (https://obengprime.com; Saint Petersburg, Russia).

Keywords

• apiary sites
• apis mellifera
• bee-forage
• bee-keeping
• pests