KATHMANDU, June 7: The Federation of Nepal Beekeepers (FNB) has stated that 21 tons of honey produced by Nepali farmers currently remains unsold. At the same time last year, 69 tons of honey had remained unsold. Back then, the beekeepers had taken their grievances directly to the then Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Ramnath Adhikari, which helped somewhat resolve the issue.
Due to pressure from farmers at that time, Dabur Nepal had purchased a certain amount of honey. However, farmers continue to claim that due to marketing problems, a large stock of honey remains unsold.
According to bee experts, the stock of unsold honey is not due to a lack of demand, but rather because consumers still do not fully trust Nepali honey. Additionally, the misconception that crystallized honey is fake has also created problems in marketing, says Subash Chandra Ghimire, president of the FNB.
He stated that a honey fair is being organized in Kathmandu to provide information about honey, discuss its uses, and facilitate interaction as well as marketing.
According to apiculture expert Jagdish Bhakta Shrestha, bees collect nectar from plants and flowers to produce honey. For example, honey made from nectar collected from mustard flowers crystallizes quickly. Moreover, honey crystallizes at temperatures below 13 to 14 degrees Celsius. This crystallization process is considered natural.
“Honey loses some of its qualities when heated,” said Shrestha. According to him, honey is beneficial not only for its medicinal properties but also for its nutritional value. Honey also helps boost the immune system.
Shiva Prasad Sharma Paudel, the former president of the FNB, said that although consuming honey has many benefits, marketing problems persist. He mentioned that due to unsold honey, many beekeepers even faced the risk of migration in past years. The problem was somewhat alleviated after exerting pressure on the government at that time.
“We recommend purchasing honey produced by Nepali farmers. Since crystallization of honey is natural, honey that does not crystallize may be fake,” he said.
Rajendra Gautam, former president of the FNB, stated that the honey consumption in Nepal should be matched by equivalent production, which is currently not the case. He complained that farmers face difficulties because the honey produced does not find a proper market. “Nepali honey is good in terms of quality, but we have not been able to make consumers understand this. The misconception that honey is fake also creates marketing problems,” he said.
He added that the government should also support the marketing of produced honey. Although Nepali honey has good potential in the international market, only a small quantity is currently being exported, he said.
According to Sujan Amgai, Chief of the Beekeeping Development Center, Bhandara, Nepali honey worth more than Rs 50 million is exported annually. He believes this indicates the potential for Nepali honey to be marketed internationally. He mentioned that exports can be increased if honey is produced according to the standards set by various countries.
Beekeepers say that the problems lie not only in marketing honey but also in bee farming. They highlight issues such as pesticide use, the need to pay fees for bee protection and grazing, which must be addressed. Farmers themselves cannot directly produce and market honey because they need to obtain permits from the government. Not every farmer can afford to have a processing unit. These factors also contribute to the low sales of Nepali honey, according to experts.
Januka Devi Thapa, President of Nepal Beekeeping Central Cooperative Association, emphasizes the need to organize beekeepers and work on honey marketing by addressing these problems.
At the ongoing honey fair in Bhrikutimandap, there are 40 stalls displaying honey, honeycombs, pollen, propolis, caps, brushes, and other related items. Farmers from all seven provinces are participating. A discussion on honey-related issues was also organized on this occasion.
According to Subash Chandra Ghimire, coordinator of the honey fair, the event provides information on technologies used in beekeeping, different bee species, and honey-related knowledge. He explained that the quality, taste, and color of honey vary depending on the species of the bee.
Farmers affiliated with the FNB have produced 226 tons of honey this year alone. In Nepal, there are 12,138 colonies of Serena bees and 6,500 colonies of Mellifera bees. There are 711 farmers raising Serena bees and 270 farmers raising Mellifera bees affiliated with the FNB .