Syangja Rural Municipality Introduces QR-Based Digital Monitoring System for Beekeeping
असार १८, २०८३ १३:३७
Kathmandu. Phedikhola Rural Municipality in Syangja has introduced a digital monitoring system to track beekeeping activities, becoming one of the first local governments in Nepal to use technology for managing beehive production.
The rural municipality officially launched the 'Bee Hive Monitor' system during the celebration of the First Phedikhola Bee Day on 18 June.
According to the Rural Municipality Chairperson Ghanshyam Subedi, the system has been introduced to monitor the effectiveness of beehives distributed under the municipality's subsidy program and ensure they are being used for their intended purpose.
Last year, the municipality distributed 25 beehives each to 24 households under a scheme funded with a 70 percent municipal subsidy and a 30 percent contribution from beneficiaries.
Subedi said the digital platform will help prevent misuse of grant-supported beehives, including unauthorized transfers or sales, while also allowing authorities to monitor the condition and management of the bee colonies.
QR Codes and Online Dashboard
The municipality has created an online database of all participating beekeepers. Every subsidized beehive has been assigned a unique QR code that can be scanned using a mobile phone to instantly access details such as the owner's identity and the hive's registered location.
According to Madan Poudel, Executive Director of Land Service, the organization that developed the system, two separate dashboards have been created—one for farmers and another for municipal officials.
Farmers can upload regular updates on hive conditions, bee health, grazing locations, transfers, and production by submitting photos and videos through the platform. They can also report disease outbreaks or technical problems directly to the municipality's agriculture section and request expert assistance.
The system is built on the open-source KoboToolbox platform. Along with photos and videos, the application automatically records the geographic location of each submission, allowing officials to verify whether the beehives remain at their designated sites.
Municipal officials use the collected data to compare production trends and monitor the effectiveness of the subsidy program. The municipality said the platform has been designed to be user-friendly, and participating farmers have already received orientation training.
Municipality Expanding Beekeeping
Phedikhola Rural Municipality, where nearly 46 percent of the total land area is covered by community forests, has been promoting beekeeping by encouraging farmers to rear the indigenous Cerena honeybee, a species well suited to the local environment and known for producing medicinal-quality honey.
The municipality currently has more than 2,600 beehives and plans to increase the number to 10,000 in the next fiscal year. To support the expansion, it has allocated Rs 6.2 million and plans to distribute beehives to another 120 households with a 50 percent subsidy.
To improve forage for bees, the municipality recently distributed 1,000 Chiuri and 400 Kalki saplings, both of which are important flowering plants that provide nectar throughout the year.
The municipality has also established a Koseli Ghar along the Siddhartha Highway to market locally produced honey. The Cerena Bee Farmers Group manages the collection and sale of the honey, which is sold for Rs 1,500 per jar.
According to the municipality, demand for the locally produced honey has remained strong, with all available production being sold through the outlet.
पछिल्लो अध्यावधिक: असार १८, २०८३ १३:४०
