Youth failing many ventures settles on local Serena bees

By Our Correspondent,Urlabari, Sept. 7: Raju Rai, 28, of Satisale, Kerabari Rural Municipality-5, Morang, who started his agricultural venture after stumbling in many sectors, is now keeping bees using a new technology.

The demand for honey from local Serena bees is high in the market. Unlike the genetically improved Mellifera bees, Serena bees can survive in any environment. 

Mellifera should be protected by feeding sugar and roasted gram flour from June to October. However, Serena itself can also survive. Due to this, Rai is currently keeping commercial Serena bees in clay hives. 

Last year, he made a clay hive himself, according to him. 

He moved the queen bee to the environment-friendly hive. The bees lived happily. 

Rai, who keeps five hives of advanced breeds and 20 hives of local breeds, said that the market value of local bees is higher.

Honey produced from the local bees is sold at up to Rs. 2,500 per kilogram whereas the honey of advanced breeds is sold at up to Rs. 1,200 per kilogram, he said.

He is currently engaged in a campaign to expand local bees along with honey production.

He is also preparing to make clay hives that can be moved from one place to another, he said. 

According to him, to move Mellifera bees is a must for honey production while there is no need to move Serena bees.

However, in terms of production, advanced breed of bees give twice as much honey as local breeds. 

According to Rai, around 30 kg of honey was produced from the beehives kept in Rancha Phante village near his house this year. The goal is to produce at least 100 kg next year, he said.

There is good demand for both beehives and honey, he said. 

Raju has decided that after producing honey like he does in local farms, he will not have a shortage of market. 

Raju's wife Parbati runs a small grocery shop at home to manage household expenses. 

Rai said that honey is being sold from that shop as well. 

He said that it is more profitable to produce and sell it himself.

Rai, who has been running a beekeeping, grocery shop and various fruit nurseries along with it, said that nobody has to go abroad to earn money these days. 

Rai, who is in a weak financial situation, once became a trekking guide. Sometimes, he visited manpower agencies carrying passport to go abroad. However, he did not find happiness anywhere. After that, he put his passport away and started farming.