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Beehives in Pyuthan insured for first time
Farmers in Pyuthan have gotten their beehives insured for the first time. The insurance will cover loss of honey bees as a result of naturally occurring causes.Farmers in Pyuthan have gotten their beehives insured for the first time. The insurance will cover loss of honey bees as a result of naturally occurring causes.
Nepal Beekeeping Central Cooperatives Association helped the farmers to insure their beehives. Last Monday, 55 beehives in Tikuri of Pyuthan Municipality was insured.
The insurance scheme was launched by IME General Insurance, said Arjun Pokhrel, central chairman of the association.
The insurance scheme will cover loss of honey bees as a result of naturally occurring causes like flood, landslide, drought, fire and hives destroyed by animals, said Pokhrel. The government has provided 75 percent of subsidy on the insurance premium.
According to him, the insurance premium has been fixed based on the hives frame or size, with the cost valuation ranging from Rs5,000 to Rs20,000. Farmers are happy to get their bees insured as it will save them from potential losses, he said.
Lately, a growing number of youths, particularly who have returned from working overseas, have been attracted to bee farming.
As there are number of problems affecting commercial bee farming in the country, the association has been making a combined effort to inform the government on the grievances that fee farmers have been facing, said Pokhrel. The association has 6,200 farmers as its members across the country.
As Pyuthan is one of the best places for bee rearing, the association has brought a number of beehives from Tarai by identifying bee rearing areas.
This has boosted honey production, with Pyuthan fast becoming a hub for bee rearing, especially during October and November.
During this period, farmers in Tarai prefer to bring bee hives to Pyuthan to feed them churi fruit. The autumn is the main season of churi fruit and Pyuthan has a large number of churi trees.
Honey made from the juice of churi is of good quality and is also good for health. It is highly sought after in the market.
Dimraj Pokhrel, who owns Pokhrel Bee Centre, said he paid Rs6,000 as insurance premium to insure 55 hives worth Rs500,000. “I am relieved now after insuring my hives as bee hive losses have been a major concern for many farmers like me.”
Pramod Ghimire, manager of IME Insurance’s branch office in Dang, said under the claim settlement, farmers would be offered 90 percent of their losses based on the claims.