Insurance terms leave beekeeping farmers in a bind in Chitwan

Beekeeping farmers in Chitwan are hesitant to insure their bees because of the terms set by insurance companies.

Jagbahadur Pun of Kalika Municipality Ward 6 said insurance does not cover losses from vehicle accidents, traffic blockades or pesticide use. In 2074 BS, about 20 hives were lost to pesticides. He said he has been considering insurance but has not yet decided.

Another farmer, Bishnu Prasad Bhusal, complained that insurance companies are not willing to insure farmers who have not taken agricultural loans. In 2080 BS, about 110 hives died, and he received payment for only about six of them after waiting nearly six months, he said.

Jhalak Nath Kandel, chief of the Agriculture Development Office Chitwan, said the state provides a subsidy of about 80 percent on honeybee insurance. However, no farmer has so far come to the office to claim a payout.

Kandel said farmers stay away from insurance because of a lack of information and cumbersome procedures.

The district has about 450 farmers rearing nearly 19,500 hives of the Mellifera variety.

Sudhir Shrestha, secretary at the Bagmati Province Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forest and Environment, said the provincial government is ready to help simplify the insurance process. He said the reasons for low farmer interest would be identified and solutions sought.