KP Sharma

Samtse—Farmers in Jangcholing, Samtse, are finding success by shifting from traditional hollow log hives to modern wooden beehives, which has boosted both honey production and income.

For 50-year-old Ram Bdr Gurung, who has been a beekeeper for decades, adopting modern hives has greatly improved his harvest.

“Having only a beehive is not enough, we have to take care of it if we are to sustain the business, not just treat it as a backyard practice,” he said.

With about 10 modern hives, Ram Bdr Gurung produced more than 50 litres of honey last year, earning him an income of Nu 600 to Nu 700 per litre.

The change for him and others began last year after they attended a training organised by the National Livestock Research Centre in Bumthang.

The training, held in collaboration with the Samtse Dzongkhag Livestock Sector under the Blossom and Comb Honey Village initiative, covered modern hive usage, honey extraction, pest management, and effective hive maintenance.

Today, the Jangcholing Honey Group has about 16 households engaged in modern beekeeping.

Beekeeping is a cultural tradition in the community, but according to the group, traditional hives were often inefficient, producing limited honey due to issues with pests, insects, and insufficient space.

Forty-six-year-old Meg Raj Ghalley said modern hives are far more effective and lucrative.

“During the dry season, it is challenging to retain bees since they leave easily,” he said. He added that while modern hives have gates to contain the queen bee, such measures are not always fully effective.

“We can also help the bees collect more nectar by placing artificial nectar prepared from sugar,” Meg Raj Ghalley said.

Farmers explained that honey production peaks during flowering seasons when bees are most active. To help bees find nectar more easily, farmers also cultivate crops such as wheat, maize, and cardamom.

Beehives require frequent monitoring to prevent damage from pests and predators.

Cockroaches, ants, and hornets are common threats, and the dense forest surrounding Jangcholing exposes hives to other dangers. “If not inspected regularly, the beehives could go empty within days,” a farmer said.

Pirthey Ghalley, who owns five hives, said the training has helped farmers adopt better practices.

“We have been trained on how to extract honey without disturbing the bees and also on how to maintain cleanliness while extracting it,” he added.

In addition to producing honey for personal use, the farmers currently sell their products directly in the market and plan to store some at the group’s collection centre in the future.

The initiative has encouraged more residents to take up modern beekeeping, offering a sustainable source of income alongside traditional farming.