Humla’s honey sales hit Rs. 45 million

By Our Correspondent 

Humla, Jan. 11: Honey sales in the Himalayan district of Humla have reached Rs. 45 million this year, with a total production of 22,500 kg and already largely sold.

According to Chudamani Panta, chief of the Agriculture Development Office in the district, farmers across the district produced 22.5 tonnes of honey in the last fiscal year 2024/25 and earned approximately Rs. 45 million by selling most of it. 

Honey in Humla is sold at around Rs. 2,000 per kg. The total production came from 2,775 beehives. Panta said honey production has increased compared to the previous year. 

He added that most farmers were successful in selling their produce, with a large portion of the honey supplied outside the district to markets in Surkhet, Nepalgunj, Pokhara and Kathmandu.

Although honey is produced in all seven rural municipalities of the district, farmers say Chankheli, Sarkegad, Kharpunath, Simkot and Namkha rural municipalities produce higher quantities as well as better-quality honey. Local honey trader Gorkha Bohara said he alone managed to sell honey worth Rs. 1 million this year, compared to Rs. 400,000 in the previous year.

Farmers who traditionally produced honey from only a few beehives have gradually begun shifting towards commercial beekeeping. Data from the Agriculture Development Office show that some farmers have now started maintaining up to 50 beehives. Officials say this reflects a growing mindset among farmers that honey production can be a reliable source of income. In the previous fiscal year 2022/23, the district produced 20.5 tonnes of honey.