36 beekeepers in Kharmi get modern apiaries

Khotang, Feb 15: Beekeepers from 36 households at Kharmi of Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi municipality-11 have been provided with modern apiaries for commercial beekeeping.

Division Forests Office of Khotang distributed the modern hive boxes to the beekeepers associated with the Dandakharka-Khisapatre Community Forest User Groups.

The forest based enterprises promotion programme under the Developing Community Resilient Livelihood (DCRL) project supported the distribution of apiaries, said Udim Prasad Rai, Chief of the Division Forests Office.

Rai said the campaign is aimed at promoting the forest based enterprises, thereby improving the livelihood of local farmers.

A total of 74 such devices were doled out in the first phase, while plan is afoot to give out 80 more tools, he informed.

Additionally, the Division Office imparted training on the modern beekeeping practices, including hive management to the professional beekeepers and those aspiring ones, it was shared. 

During the training, a swarm of bees of local cerana species was tested for production in the apiary.

The distribution programme was organized in the presence of Kharmi's ward Chairperson Ikh Bahadur Rai and Forest User Group's Chairperson Harka Raj Rai. 

The hive boxes were purchased from among Rs 563,000 budget allocated for promotion of commercial beekeeping.

Farmers too are elated to receive the apiaries for free of cost which would otherwise cost them at least Rs 5,200 per device. (RSS)