TAAN to promote honey hunting

Trekking Agencies´ Association of Nepal (TAAN) is studying the prospects of adding honey hunting and canyoning in trekking packages in Lamjung, a statment of the assocaition said on Sunday.

A delegation of TAAN participated in the honey hunting festival held at Ghanpokhara VDC 8 in Lamjung district on November 22. The festival was organized jointly by Beekeepers Association-Lamjung, District Development Committee-Lamjung, Mothers´ Group of Ghanapokhara, District Agricultural Development Office-Lamjung and Lamjung Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The honey hunting site in Ghanpokhara can be reached after a trek of two and half hours from nearest motorable road near Ghimrang.

The locals use indigenous techniques to collect honeycombs from steep cliffs. October-November in winter and April-May in summer are considered the main seasons for honey harvesting which can be developed as an interesting touristm product, the statement added.

TAAN President Mahendra Singh Thapa said though honey is being harvested using native techniques, efforts should be made to make the process technically sound so as to avoid casualties.

On the occasion, Sunar Bahadur Gurung, a renowned mountain guide, provided rock climbing ropes to the honey hunters so that they can harvest honey in a safer way.

source: republica,25 Nov 2012