The Beekeepers’ Cooperative of Bhutan in Bumthang will be able to meet only 60 percent of the local market’s demand even though the cooperative is expecting a bountiful harvest, this year.
The honey production has almost doubled this year. The cooperative collected at least 18 metric tonnes of honey, this year, as opposed to 10 metric tonnes, last year.
“Last year, I got around Nu 300,000. This year, I am expecting around Nu 600,000. Beekeeping is a lucrative business and it is easy compared to other agricultural works,” said one of the beekeepers, Sangay Khandu.
Beekeepers say favourable weather conditions during flowering season were all that made the difference.
But even with the increase in production, the cooperative will still not be able to meet the demand. Majority of the honey produced is sold in Bumthang and the rest in Thimphu.
There are also orders already from countries like Thailand, Japan and Korea.
To fulfill the demands, the cooperative is in need of more members.
“We are giving training and encouraging unemployed youth who to take up the business,” the cooperative’s chairman, Tul Bahadhur Chhetri. He said they would be able to meet the demand, at least within the country, if they are to have more members.
Currently, there are 55 members registered with the cooperative an increase by about 20 members compared to last year.
The agriculture and forests ministry is also conducting feasibility studies to promote beekeeping in other parts of the country.
