journal of renewable natural resources bhutan - Ministry of Agriculture

CONCLUSIONSN. B. TamangHoney bees have been an unfailing partner of rural folks, supporting toimprove their health and well-being, generate some cash and also helpto improve crops yield through pollination services. However,available honey bee resources remained to be gainfully utilized forgreater benefit of poor and landless. Improved ways of beekeeping islargely unheard and beekeeping method is still primitive. General lackof skills and awareness on improved way of keeping bees is hindranceto rapid up-scaling of beekeeping activities. None the less, farmerswith long tradition of beekeeping have enough experience ontraditional beekeeping. Honey production can thus be improved byharnessing traditional knowledge, amalgamating with modernbeekeeping technologies. But full time beekeeping as a main incomegenerating activity will however depend on resources availability,interest of beekeepers and market opportunities for honey and byproducts.As there are no social and religious restrictions against women, theycan be encouraged to take an active role in promotion of honey beeactivities. Further, coherent society and similar ethnic groups in acommunity gives opportunities to form beekeepers self-help groups ina longer run.ACKNOWLEDGEMENTThe author thanks Mr. Ghem Tshering, Gyem Thinley, SamdaWangchuk, Santaman Rai and Krishna Rai for their assistance tocollect field data. I should remain grateful to Dr. Tashi Dorji, ProgramDirector, RNRRC Jakar for encouragement and support and also fortaking time to go through the manuscript. Guidelines and fund supportby ICIMOD to conduct the study is appreciated. The logistical supportof Officer In-charge(s) RNR Research Sub-Centre, Bhur and Drala isgratefully acknowledged.36