Beekeepers in Jumla district have been worried after the bears began stalking beehives they are keeping commercially.
Ramkrishna Budhthapa of Chandannath municipalty-4 in the district bemoaned that bears damaged 13 beehives in two years. He has a one hive at present.
Although people keep vigil at night to chase away the beast and save the hives, it is not effective at all, he shared the plight.
They have been adopting commercial beekeeping nearby forest area. Bears eat up bee larva and honey in the hives and render the hives inhabitable for the honey insects, he said, adding that they face such brunt during September, October and November.
Beehives are kept at Chaurkhola, Radikhalla and Talium area of the municipality besides Lekali area, Pere of Patarashi and Kotle of Guthichaur and Kanakasundari, according to Beekeeping Cooperatives.
The affected farmers have submitted applications at the Agriculture Development Office, demanding to value the bee for insurance owing to diminishing bees.
There is a pr
ovision of insurance for bees with 75 per cent subsidy from the government side.
According to Narayan Chaulagain, Secretary of the Cooperatives, apiarists in other districts were benefiting from the insurance scheme for bees but the beekeepers in Jumla were not entitled to this facility.
Source: National News Agency RSS