DHADING, Feb 15: These days the verandas of most houses in Dhadingbesi are decorated with beehives. In fact, beehives have been a common sight here for the last few years.

Fifteen years ago, Narayan Ghimire of Shantabazaar ventured into beekeeping after retiring from the Nepal Army. At that time, he had no idea that this business will work wonders for him. "It is possible to make enough money in this profession with little hard work and investment," said Ghimire. He has kept altogether 150 beehives in three verandas of his three storey house.

In the beginning, he started the business with just five to six beehives but now he has them all over his house. He has been selling 540 ml honey for Rs 600. By doing so, he earns around Rs 200,000 per month. He is not just earning his bread and butter through this but also managing the education fees of his two sons and two daughters.

Finding a market for honey is not a challenge for the farmers here. "We don't have to search for markets as the customers come to our doorsteps," said Ghimire.  According to him, no one will have to wander about jobless or fly abroad in search of employment if they utilized their time and money in these kinds of businesses. In recent days, he has been an exemplary beekeeper in his locality.

Ghimire and his wife Ambika have been suggesting to people to adopt beekeeping as their business in order to make good money in their own country. The youth targeted grant program conducted by the District Agriculture Office, Dhading, has encouraged a lot of people towards this profession. As honey is rich in nutrition and has medical benefits, its demand is increasing day by day.

Similarly, Tej Kumari Ghimire of Jwalamukhi Rural Municipality has been keeping bees on her terrace. Three years ago, her husband started this business with an investment of Rs 200,000 and now she has been handling it all on her own. She says she earns more than Rs 200,000 a year from selling honey.

Narayan and Tej Kumari are just examples as there are hundreds of farmers like them for whom beekeeping has emerged as a thriving business.    The farmers of Nalang, Jogimara, Naubise, Maidi, Dhola among others are actively engaged in beekeeping. Beekeeping has not just increased their income but has also uplifted their living standard.

 
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