Chitwan: The Beekeeping Development Programme in Bhandara, Chitwan has achieved a significant milestone by successfully producing queen bees through artificial insemination for the first time. This breakthrough was made possible through the technical assistance of beekeeping experts from the University of Florida in the USA, as reported by Programme Chief Sujan Amgai.
According to National News Agency Nepal, a total of five queen bees were produced using this innovative technology. The queen bee, being the sole fertile female in a honeybee colony, plays a crucial role in egg-laying. The initiative to breed queen bees using artificial methods aims to enhance the quality of the bee breed, specifically the mellifera species, as explained by Amgai.
The production was made possible through a collaboration with trained beekeeper Alice Maharjan and technicians from the Beekeeping Development Programme. Amgai highlighted the success as the result of continuous efforts, following a previous unsuccessful attempt last fiscal year. This time, all five queen bees were successfully reared and preserved.
The artificially produced queen bees are not only expected to increase honey production but are also believed to have greater immunity compared to their naturally produced counterparts. While this advancement holds promise for boosting honey yield, further research into the life cycle of these queen bees remains necessary.