Beekeeping has emerged as a promising source of income for residents of Jangchhogling village in Samtse, with almost every household now engaged in the practice. Thanks to a training provided last year, villagers are embracing modern beekeeping techniques, leading to improved yields and livelihoods.
Just a year ago, beekeeping was a little-known practice in Jangchhogling village. While a few households kept bees using traditional methods, their efforts yielded limited results. Today, things are different.
45-year-old, Dhan Bahadur Ghalley, one of the first villagers to embrace modern beekeeping techniques, exemplifies this transformation. Today, he proudly owns 20 beehives installed around his home.
“The great thing about beekeeping is that it requires less effort and time compared to other forms of livestock farming. The main concern is managing pests like ants, otherwise we can balance beekeeping with other activities. It’s also completely organic, and we can use the honey ourselves, enjoying its many health benefits.”
Last year, Dhan earned Nu 26,000 by selling honey from just five beehives.
The income, he said, was crucial in meeting educational expenses for his children.
With 20 beehives now ready for harvest, he is looking forward to an even more promising yield this year.
Prior to the training, beekeeping was largely based on ancestral knowledge, which did not always yield the best results.
“In the past, we used to keep beehives in our homes. Our elders were doing it incorrectly. Unaware of the proper methods, we had been raising bees the wrong way and consuming everything at harvest. However, the training we received has taught us the correct techniques, and it has made a significant difference.”
The story of beekeeping success extends beyond Dhan Bahadur’s household.
Out of 30 households in Jangchhogling, 22 now engage in beekeeping.
Hema Devi Ghalley, a resident said “It’s been about a year since we received the beekeeping training and started practicing it in our village. While we are yet to harvest honey from the beehives, we are hopeful of a good yield this season.”
Today, local honey fetches around Nu 1,000 per litre in the market, making it a lucrative venture for small-scale farmers.
Jangchhogling village, located along the Samtse-Phuentshogling highway and home to about 32 households, is now embracing beekeeping as a sustainable source of income.
Passang Dorji, Samtse
