Flow Hive Technology, a new method of honey extraction has proven successful in the country. A team from the National Highland Research and Development Centre (NHRDC) piloted the technology in Bumthang recently. The Flow Hive method, developed by an Australian father-son duo, is often dubbed as ‘Honey on Tap”. This is because beekeepers can turn a tap on their beehives and simply watch honey flow into their jars.
An Australian friend gifted the hive to Greener Lyfe Farm, a youth group in Paro. The group approached the NHRDC in Bumthang to try the technology’s feasibility in Bhutan. The hive was kept for over a month in a favourable environment in Chumey Gewog.
“The Flow Hive is actually a new technology in Bhutan although it is becoming very popular in Australia, New Zealand and other European countries. It has a lot of advantages over the conventional beehives that are in use and especially in Bhutan, most of the people have religious sentiments towards beekeeping but in this method, there will be no death of bees as the box need not be opened while harvesting honey,” said Vijay Raika (PhD), the Programme Director of NHRDC.
The honey from the hive was extracted at the centre on Saturday. As in the conventional honey extraction practice, no smoker or beekeeping gear are required. One only needs a lever to unlock honey frames, a flow tube from which honey flows out of the hive and honey jars.
One of the researchers at the centre demonstrated the extraction procedure. Remove the cap on the trough, insert the flow tube, place the jars, and unlock the combs with the lever. Within minutes, honey starts flowing while the bees remain undisturbed.
“For people living in town and peri-urban areas, this can be a very good way to produce honey in their backyard for their household consumption. In the future, if there are demands for the Flow Hive, definitely the youth group will facilitate in supplying them and all the technical support such as training and how to use the hives will be provided by the centre,” added Vijay Raika.
More than 11 kilograms of honey was extracted as part of the demonstration. Researchers said the harvest was good as well as hygienic.
Currently, a Flow Hive costs around Nu 50,000. If the cost doesn’t become a deterring factor, the technology could potentially transform honey extraction in Bhutan.
Kipchu, Bumthang
