'The beehive industry has changed my life'

”Until three years ago, I had an annual turnover of up to 3 million rupees by selling beehives. Business is not so good now because of Indian traders. Since the sale of beehives has started to decline, I have been living in Surkhet and keeping bees for a few months now.”

कार्तिक १७, २०८२

बालु कँवर

'The beehive industry has changed my life'

I was studying in grade 3 when my father passed away. After the family lost all income, financial difficulties began to appear. After that, I lost interest in studying. And at the age of 13, I left school and went to Kalapahad, India, with my friends in 2046 BS.

After losing my father, I was responsible for raising my mother and siblings. I spent 26 years in India. During that time, I worked in various places from Himachal Pradesh. The money I earned there was enough for food and shelter. I could not send regular household expenses. I worked abroad for a long time. However, I could not easily raise my family.

If I could not earn even if I was away from my family, I did not see much point. Meanwhile, the family's financial situation was getting weaker. I returned to my homeland in 2072 BS thinking that instead of always working for someone else, I would stay at home and do something. I was confused for a while after returning from India. I could not get a job because I did not have an education. I saw a farmer from Kalimati buying beehives from Kathmandu and selling them in the village. Then I started making beehives for bees. After some time, I opened a beehive industry. Now that same industry has changed my life.

Dang's Shivshakti Beekeeping Industry initially inspired me to learn the skill. In 2073 BS, I started the industry by borrowing one lakh rupees from a local. I am busy working from morning to evening in the industry located on rented land near my house. I made a loss for the first two years, but I did not give up. Since then, I sell 600 to one thousand beehives every year. Last year, I sold 600 beehives and made a turnover of 1.8 million rupees. After deducting all expenses, I had 4 lakhs left.

I am now 49 years old. I have a family of five. The family spends 6 thousand rupees on rice, 1 thousand 500 rupees on pulses, 700 rupees on mustard oil, 60 rupees on salt, and 3 thousand rupees on vegetables in a month. Eating meat once a week costs 2,000. Electricity bill, telephone and other 3,000 are 20,000 per month and 240,000 per year. I have educated my children with the money I earn. I have been getting treatment for myself and my family. Now I am able to employ four or five people in my own industry. I have also acquired land with the money I earn.

Till three years ago, I had a turnover of up to 3 million per year by selling beehives. Business is not so good now due to Indian traders. Since the sale of beehives has started decreasing, I have been keeping bees in Surkhet for a few months. An organization in Rukum has demanded beehives. Now I will return home at the end of Kartik and start making beehives again. Earlier, when the Agricultural Development Office facilitated the beehives, the beehives I made fetched a good price.

Some middlemen are now buying beehives from India at a low price and selling them here. The concerned authorities should pay attention to this. In the past, when using traditional machines, I used to make up to one hive per day. Now, I make up to four in a day.

In the beginning, I used to make beehives using traditional tools as I could not invest much. My income is increasing and after the Agricultural Development Office Salyan provided a subsidy, I have now purchased a modern machine that runs on electricity. Using it has also made it easier to make beehives.

Presentation: Biplav Maharjan

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