Honey production declines due to adverse weather conditions

By Rabindra Upreti,Bardibas, May 7: Honey production is declining in the forests of Mahottari, which are considered fertile areas for beekeeping, due to adverse conditions and the impact of climate change.

According to Nawajagaran Beekeeper Farmers' Group located in Khairinitar, Chitwan 4, the production of honey from the forests of Mahottari has been declining over the years due to the impact of climate change.

The honey production from the forest declined to 120 quintals worth Rs. 6 million in 2080 B.S. while 400 quintals of honey worth Rs. 20 million in 2079 B.S.

The beekeepers said that the production of honey has also decreased and limited only around 60 to 65 quintals worth Rs. 36 million this year.

Farmers from Khairini of Chitwan have been bringing beehives to the forests of Mahottari, which are considered an invaluable heritage for honey production, since 2064 BS. 

Beekeepers collect honey from mid-January to mid-April every year and return to Chitwan in the first or second week of May.

This year, 27 farmer families from Khairini have brought 2,000 beehives with a goal of collecting 35,000 to 40,000 kg of honey.

After the arrival of the beekeepers, the northern part of the district, from the orchards under Bardibas and Gaushala municipalities to the Sagarnath Forest Development Project, is filled with beehives.

After the onset of Chaitra in the forests of Mahottari, various wild plants such as eucalyptus, rudilo, gumpate, jamuno, camuno, sisau bloom, which is considered a fertilizer for honey production. With the onset of spring, the flowers of Sahijan, Litchi and local species bloom, which has increased the attraction of honey farmers. 

On the other hand, the forests of Bardibas area are mainly rich in eucalyptus trees. As eucalyptus honey has organic and medicinal properties, its demand and attraction are also increasing.

According to Suresh Basnet, a leading bee farmer and president of the Nawajagaran Beekeeper Farmers Group, honey production has been affected as the trees have stopped blooming as before for the past two years. 

He said that after the Sagarnath Project and the week-long fire in the natural forest, the bee movement has been affected, and the honey production has not been as targeted.

Basnet said, "Spring is the season for abundant flowering in trees. For a few years, eucalyptus and wild plants have not been flowering as much as before. It is not possible to say why. The increasing heat and climate change may be the reason for this. After the decrease in flowers, honey production has also decreased."

Environmental activists also seem to agree with Basnet’s statement.

Sunil Gupta, coordinator of the Chure Uplift Project, Provincial Project Management Unit in Bardibas, said that there is a mutual relationship between forests, environment and climate, like flowers, bees and honey.

According to him, climate change has disrupted the local environment. Plants need moisture in the ground to flower. For that, it is necessary to have a winter season. 

"There has been no rain in the winter season for the past two years. Due to this, there is no moisture in the ground. The seasonal temperature has increased. The temperature for plants should not exceed 25 to a maximum of 35 degrees. It is about to increase to 38 to 40 degrees," he said.

Gupta said, "The beekeeper's guess is correct. Due to climate change, the ground became dry in lack of rain in winter. Flowers bloomed less. Bees' grazing was affected. And honey production automatically decreased."