Beekeeping in southern foothills of Bhutan: honey production, farmers’ preference and constraints

Abstract

The objectives of the study were to understand the traditional and improved honey production methods under farmers’ condition and evaluate farmers’ preference for the methods. A field survey was conducted in Dunglagang and Patshaling gewogs under Tsirang dzongkhag and Jigmecholing gewog under Sarpang dzongkhag. Data were collected from 91 beekeepers. All sampled gewogs practiced beekeeping with both traditional and improved hives. Honey production from improved hives was significantly higher than the traditional hive. Beekeepers preferred improved hive over traditional hive because of higher honey production, easy to clean and extract honey, and less colony death. It was apparent that the improved movable frame hive with proper colony management was more promising for enhancing quality and quantity of honey than the traditional hive. Bee absconding, swarming, pest and predator were primary constraints faced by beekeepers in the study area.