May 13, Baitadi – A small, old house completely covered with traditional beehives adorns the walls of Prem Bahadur Bista’s home in Sunarya Rural Municipality-7, Chhida, Baitadi. There is barely any space left on the walls, prompting hives to extend over the kitchen, granary roofs, and along pathways. This scene exemplifies beekeeping in its traditional form, practiced by Bista for the past 25 years.
“I started beekeeping with just a few hives, and over time, it grew to this extent,” Bista said. “When I ran out of wall space, I expanded the hives to the kitchen, granary (charpi) roofs, and even along the path,” he added. Still facing space constraints, he has also placed hives on nearby cliff edges. Currently, Bista has nearly 70 traditional hives, producing approximately 200 kilograms of honey annually.
“I rear bees indigenous to our village in these traditional hives; it’s completely organic,” he explained.
Bista’s household consists of six members including his wife and children. Their livelihood primarily depends on beekeeping. He harvests honey twice a year, in the months of Chaitra to Baisakh (March to April) and Kartik to Mangsir (October to November). “Each harvest yields over 100 kilograms,” he said. The honey finds ready markets locally and is also exported beyond the district.
However, Bista laments growing challenges in preserving bees with traditional methods. The most pressing issue is damage from pests such as moths, which chew through the wooden hives easily. Additionally, protecting the bees from cold during monsoon seasons is difficult. “Moth infestations easily destroy hives made from wooden logs, and the cold during monsoons poses a significant threat,” he explained.
He shared that despite his long experience, he has not received any institutional support or training. Recently, Bista expressed a desire to expand his business with modern beekeeping techniques and professional skill development. “I have not yet received any training or grants, possibly because I haven’t reached out,” he said. “If someone provides technical assistance and support, I’m eager to grow this enterprise,” he added.
