Stakeholders Call for Quality Improvement of Nepali Honey Amid Adulteration Concerns

Amid rising concerns over honey adulteration and import without proper customs procedures, stakeholders have stressed the need to enhance the quality and production of honey within Nepal. At a discussion held Saturday in Kathmandu during the sixth National Honey Fair, government officials, bee experts, entrepreneurs, and farmers called for coordinated efforts to improve the integrity of Nepali honey to meet both domestic and international market standards.

The event, organized at Bhrikuti Mandap on the theme “Status of Honey Quality in Nepal: Marketing Prospects, Challenges, and Opportunities,” highlighted issues of quality control, lack of standard pricing, and insufficient regulatory oversight. Speakers emphasized that unless Nepal produces quality honey and addresses adulteration, both consumer trust and international competitiveness will remain at risk.

Subash Chandra Ghimire, President of the Nepal Beekeepers Federation and coordinator of the honey fair, said coordinated action among government bodies, local authorities, and farmers is essential to improve honey quality and enable sustainable market access.

Ghimire also mentioned that Good Beekeeping Practices Implementation Guidelines have been developed to raise quality standards and will be implemented soon. “Farmers now understand that honey won't sell without quality,” he said. “That's why production is now more focused on meeting quality benchmarks.”

Bee expert Jagadish Bhakta Shrestha explained that honey remains unspoiled when naturally processed but can deteriorate with poor handling. “Quality starts from the moment production begins and depends on the practices carried out all the way to the consumer,” he added.

Former president of the Nepal Beekeeping Central Cooperative Association Limited, Arjun Pokharel, echoed the importance of following established guidelines and urged farmers to aim for global markets. Honey entrepreneur Ganesh Ghimire also emphasized Nepal’s floral diversity as an asset and said that it creates demand for Nepali honey internationally.

Beekeeper Hemraj Devkota from Sarlahi raised an alert about the spread of aphids threatening bee populations and said that a guaranteed market is essential to motivate farmers toward quality production. He expressed confidence that production can be increased significantly if the right support mechanisms are in place.

Several participants raised concerns about the lack of a fixed price for honey in Nepal. Krishnahari Jammakattel, Vice President of the Beekeeping Central Cooperative Association, said, “It’s ironic that the price of domestic honey remains undetermined due to the government’s inaction.”

Shiva Prasad Sharma Poudel, outgoing president of the Beekeepers Federation, suggested that instead of direct subsidies, support should be given through better marketing channels and regulatory implementation.

Dr. Savitri Baral, head of the Commercial Kit Development Center, added that while efforts have been made to set a price, a lack of factual cost reports has stalled the process. She further called for evidence-backed monitoring of honey imports entering Nepal without customs clearance and urged farmers to be vigilant about adulteration issues.

The three-day honey fair concluded on Saturday, with stakeholders unified in their message: the future of Nepal’s honey industry depends on enforcing standards, improving practices, and building trust through quality. – With inputs from RSS