Manraj Thrives in Livestock and Beekeeping After Returning from Abroad

After spending nearly a decade abroad, Manraj, a farmer from Itahari, returned to Nepal and has found success in commercial livestock farming and beekeeping. He shares that his businesses are now a significant source of income.

Manraj Puri, from Itahari Metropolitan City-19, worked in Saudi Arabia and Malaysia for eight years before returning to Nepal. He initially started with small investments in livestock and beekeeping, and today these ventures have become lucrative sources of income.

Recalling the loss of his parents at the age of 17, Manraj shared, “After working hard abroad and saving some money, I decided to invest in my country and start a business. Though I considered other businesses, I chose livestock farming as I didn’t have a clear path for others.”

Starting with dairy farming, Manraj has recently ventured into beekeeping, which is now providing him with significant earnings. “This business has made me feel self-reliant. The satisfaction I get from my business is something you can’t experience from a job,” he said. “Now, I earn around NPR 8 to 9 lakhs annually, and it covers all my household expenses.”

Every business comes with its challenges and opportunities. Manraj was initially worried about the difficulty of selling milk, fearing there might not be a market. However, he found it much easier than expected. “I now deliver 40 to 50 liters of milk daily to local markets, hotels, and dairies,” he explained.

He further added, “Rather than working for someone else abroad, you can earn a good income by making a small investment in your own country. It also creates employment opportunities in the village, and I get to work for myself.”

Manraj employed two workers on his farm when he first started. He feels proud to have been able to provide local employment. “They worked for eight years, and I paid them NPR 22,000 per month,” he said. “After they left a few months ago, my family now runs the business together.”

Managing the feed for the cows and goats is not difficult as Manraj grows most of it in his own field. “We cultivate rice on over a hectare of land. The straw and fodder come from there, so there’s no need to buy feed from outside,” he shared. He believes that with more grazing land and additional fodder, goat farming could become even more profitable.

After seeing the potential for good income from beekeeping, Manraj purchased four beehives a year ago. He now manages over 40 beehives. “At first, I was unsure about the income from beekeeping, but as I expanded the hives and saw the potential, I started prioritizing it more,” he said.

Manraj began beekeeping after seeing others do it successfully. “The potential is good, especially when the flowers bloom. You can harvest honey in 22 to 30 days, and the production is high. However, during the off-season, it can take up to three months,” he explained.

Manraj purchased his beehives for NPR 14,000 each. He harvests up to six kilograms of honey from a single hive at a time. “I sell the honey in local markets in Itahari,” he said.

He believes that if farmers in the village receive beekeeping training and support, they could also generate good income from it. “Organic honey produced locally can fetch a good price in the market,” he said. He currently sells honey directly from his home at NPR 750 to 1,000 per kilogram.

Beekeeping can be started with minimal investment, and with good management, market research, and modern technology, it can become a sustainable source of income. “If the government provides good subsidies and support, the potential for earning through beekeeping will increase,” he concluded.