Cold Weather Causes Bee Deaths in Banke, Threatening Honey Production

Bees raised for honey production are dying due to the recent cold wave in the Terai region, affecting farmers in Banke.

According to Purmal Basnet, President of the Nepal Beekeepers’ Federation, Banke, about two percent of the bees in his hives have died. “This is like a crisis for beekeepers,” he said. “Outside the hives, bees face attacks from birds, while in the Terai, cold weather and frost are killing them.”

Basnet noted that in some cases, extreme cold can even empty the hives entirely, though this has not happened in Banke so far. Each hive typically contains around 30,000 to 35,000 bees.

He warned that if the bees are not properly fed, farmers could face significant losses. In Banke, honey is being produced from the advanced European breed of bee called Apis mellifera.

Bees often face cold stress when moved to different locations for foraging. As a result, honey production in Banke is expected to decline this year. Even local bee species, such as Bhamra and Putka, are dying due to the cold, highlighting the need for protective programs.

Basnet said he had taken 50 of his hives to Gulariya in Bardiya’s Laxmanpur area for foraging. With mustard already harvested there, the hives will soon be moved to other locations. He also mentioned that in Kartik, he had taken hives to Tara Tal in Bardiya and plans to move them to Basgadhi Municipality for foraging in the coming days.

Krishna Acharya, a beekeeper from Kohalpur Municipality–5, expressed concern over the impact of cold weather on honey production. “Each hive has about 10 frames, and two to three frames in each hive are now empty,” he said. Acharya explained that queen bees cannot lay eggs in the cold, bees cannot leave the hive, cannot feed, and often die, reducing honey output.

He added, “Nearly half of my bees have died due to extreme cold.” Acharya maintains about 70 hives. Currently, 12 beekeepers in the district produce honey. Last year, Banke produced around 250,000 quintals of honey, but this year’s output is expected to be even lower, according to Basnet.

Kalpana Nepali, head of the Agriculture Development Section in Kohalpur Municipality, said that although beekeepers received government grants last year, no such program is planned this year. Only a limited number of farmers in Kohalpur, Baijanath, Raptisonari, and Khajura practice beekeeping.

Basnet added that last year Kohalpur Municipality provided a grant of NPR 500,000, which was distributed among five local farmers. Most beekeepers in the district take their hives to Dang, Bardiya, Surkhet, and other districts for foraging.