The 5th National Honey Fair is beginning in Kathmandu on Wednesday with the slogan "Eat a spoonful of honey daily for a healthy and long life".

Honey producers informed the media in a press conference held on Tuesday that the honey fair was organised to make people aware of the benefits of honey.

Subhash Chandra Ghimire, President of Nepal Beekeeper Federation, said that the objective of the festival was to connect honey producers with national and international marketplaces. "We aim to connect native honey producers with potential markets," he said.

Similarly, Bhojraj Sapkota, the Head of the Commercial Kit Development Centre, said that the fair was expected to play an effective role in eradicating problems in this sector.

He further said Nepali honey, being the best in the world, was unable find a reliable market.

Janukadevi Thapa, President of Nepal Beekeeping Central Cooperative Association, said that although there was a lot of potential for the production, consumption and export of honey produced in Nepal, the sector was in trouble.

"We are in problems because the government has not given enough information about facilities and concessions to the farmers," she added.

Umesh Prasad Singh, President of the Federation of Nepal Household and Small Industries, said that the federation was ready to cooperate to solve business problems in honey production.

According to him, the honey fair would be held from May 8 to May 13 in Kathmandu under the banner of "17th International Industrial Trade Fair". Singh also said producers could interact with the sellers and the consumers at the same time.

In the fair, the methods of honey extraction and information about honey would be shared. Likewise, an exhibition of the latest techniques of beekeeping would be displayed while interaction between stakeholders related to bees and seminars are planned. In addition to the cultural programmes and performances by national-level artists, the introduction of honey from different sources to honey connoisseurs would be the attractions of the fair.

Earlier, the federation had organized two honey fairs in Chitwan, while a honey fair was organized once in Kathmandu under the auspices of the Honey Traders Association and Nepal Beekeeping Central Cooperative Association.

Harihar Thapa, Rajendraman Shrestha, General Secretary of Nepal Household and Small Industries Federation, Member Narayan Karki, Uma Khatri, Vice President of Nepal Beekeepers Federation and others spoke at the press conference.