journal of renewable natural resources bhutan - Ministry of Agriculture

Honey productionAverage annual honey prouction when harvested twice is eight bottles(750ml/bottle). A colony/hive of indigenous bee produces maximumof seven bottles and minimum of one bottle or even less with anaverage of four bottles per harvest. This finding is close to earlierestimate of two to four bottles per harvest/ hive in mid-altitude areas ofTsirang and Dagana districts of Bhutan (Dorji, 2001). However, abeekeeper at Tabji reported that eight bottles of honey could beobtained in a single harvest for same bee species managed in improvedhive. Thus, use of improve hive is likely to double the yield. Apismelipona produce about one bottle honey per hive per year.Honey harvestingN. B. TamangBees are harvested using locally made knife. Usually smoke is createdinside the hive that drives away the bees and honey is then harvested.The honey once harvested is strained using double layer muslin cloth.Generally honey is harvested twice in a year, November-Decemberand February-March. Some farmers however harvest three times(February-March, June-July, November-December) some harvesteven four times while some harvest only once. Fortnightly harvestingof honey during late spring is also reported as there is sufficient honeyflow due to spring bloom. However, it is doubtful whether the maturedhoney could be harvested in this very short period.Seven bottles is reported to be obtained during spring harvest in Marchand low (1-2 bottles) in other seasons. Good harvest in March isattributed to flowering of buckwheat and mustard flower in winterwhich invariably is considered as best flora for bees. Less productionwhen harvested after monsoon is because bees are unable to go out tocollect nectars and pollen during rainy days and is the most food scarceperiod. Irregular and frequent harvesting also could have aggravatedthe situation.32