Small Hive Beetle Hits Kangra: HP Offers 30% Relief, Eyes BigBasket for Honey Sales

Himachal Pradesh will provide 30 per cent relief to beekeepers in Kangra district affected by small hive beetle infestation, Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi said on Monday.

Negi made the announcement while chairing a meeting with horticulture department officials to review losses reported by beekeepers in Kangra, Bunddi, Nagan, Fatt and Kalyara areas.

The meeting was held to discuss losses suffered in the affected areas and the department’s response to the infestation.

The minister said beekeepers in these areas had suffered heavy losses following the spread of the small hive beetle, Aethina tumida Murray. The pest lays larvae inside beehives, causing damage to honey and bee colonies within days.

The department is assessing the impact of the infestation and losses suffered by beekeepers. The government has announced 30 per cent relief, while details of the assessment and disbursement process are being worked out.

The infestation has affected beekeeping activity in Kangra, where producers depend on healthy colonies for honey production. Damage to hives can affect honey stocks and the condition of bee colonies.

Officials briefed Negi on the spread of the beetle and the damage reported in the affected areas. The meeting focused on the losses faced by beekeepers and the steps being taken by the horticulture department.

The government is also examining ways to improve the marketing of honey produced in Himachal Pradesh. Negi directed horticulture officials to prepare a detailed proposal for marketing the state’s honey through BigBasket and submit it to the government.

The proposal is aimed at providing an organised retail channel for Himachal honey. However, the government has not announced a final agreement, launch date or other operational details for sales through the platform.

The small hive beetle is known to reproduce inside bee colonies, where its larvae can damage honey and other hive material. Its spread can therefore create losses for beekeepers by affecting both honey and the colonies used for production.

Further details on the relief and proposed BigBasket marketing arrangement are awaited.