CHITWAN, April 20: Honey production has decreased by 1,070 tons in 2081 BS compared to the previous year.
A total of 4,945 tons of honey were produced in 2080 BS whereas the production has decreased to 3,875 tons in 2081. President of the Nepal Beekeepers Federation (NBF), Subash Chandra Ghimire, said the decline in honey production this year is due to the lack of sale of honey the previous year, disputes over grazing areas, uncontrolled use of pesticides, increase in the price of beekeeping equipments, expensive transportation and the sale of fake honey and adulterated honey.
However, the number of beekeepers has increased compared to the previous year. Last year, 8,100 farmers were involved in beekeeping but this number increased to 8,398 farmers in 2081.
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The number of farmers raising domesticated Serena bees has increased. The number of farmers raising this breed of bees was 6,135 last year but increased to 6,830 in 2081, he said.
Meanwhile, the number of commercial beekeepers has decreased from 1,965 to 1,568 in 2081.
They have been raising mellifera bees.
The NBF has stated that there was a stock of 197 tons of honey in 2081 BS compared to 3,143 tons in 2080 BS.
