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Beekeeping and Honey Hunting in Nepal: Current Status and Future Perspectives

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Asian Beekeeping in the 21st Century

Abstract

Nepal is rich in honey bee diversity. Four native species of honey bees viz. Apis laboriosa, Apis dorsata, Apis florea, and Apis cerana and one exotic species, Apis mellifera are found in Nepal. Beekeeping with A. cerana was started in 1960, whereas A. mellifera in 1990. The Nepal Government and several foreign agencies have been involved in promoting beekeeping for the development of livelihood of deprived communities in rural areas, but beekeeping has been hindered due to lack of modern beekeeping technology, improper management of colonies, and lack of techniques in controlling mites, and brood diseases. The Nepal government and hundreds of international NGOs/INGOs are distributing bee colonies, honey buckets, and some hive tools to villagers for poverty alleviation without any proper beekeeping training. In addition, honey hunting from cliffs is a spectacular event for tourists to enhance the income generation of mountain people. Due to deforestation, and over-harvesting, the cliff-nesting species, A. laboriosa, is in an alarming decline. Other Apis species and 34 species of bumble bees have been recorded in Nepal, pollinating wild plants, as well as some of the cultivated crops.

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Acknowledgements

This manuscript was largely based on Aryal S, Thapa R, and Jung C 2015. An overview of beekeeping economy and its constraints in Nepal. J. Apic. 30:135–124. The authors are grateful for the permission from the Journal of Apiculture. CJ was supported from PJ00997004, RDA, Korea.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zoology Department, Tri-Chandra Multiple College, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal

    Ratna Thapa

  2. Department of Bioresources Sciences, Andong National University, Andong, Republic of Korea

    Sunil Aryal

  3. Zoology Department, Amrit Science Campus (ASCOL), TU, Kathmandu, Nepal

    Sunil Aryal

  4. Department of Bioresources Sciences, Andong National University, Andong, Republic of Korea

    Chuleui Jung

Authors
  1. Ratna Thapa
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  2. Sunil Aryal
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  3. Chuleui Jung
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University , Chiang Mai, Thailand

    Panuwan Chantawannakul

  2. Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA

    Geoffrey Williams

  3. Institute of Bee Health, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

    Peter Neumann

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Thapa, R., Aryal, S., Jung, C. (2018). Beekeeping and Honey Hunting in Nepal: Current Status and Future Perspectives. In: Chantawannakul, P., Williams, G., Neumann, P. (eds) Asian Beekeeping in the 21st Century. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-8222-1_5

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