Along with it came parasites that have decimated the indigenous Asiatic honeybee stocks. Biologist and bee expert Uma Partap is fighting to save the local honeybee and at the same time is teaching farmers modern breeding methods. The cultivation of monocultures and use of pesticides have also contributed to the Asiatic bee's decline in the country. But local bee stocks are now slowly recovering, thanks to workshops held by Uma Partap from the International Centre of Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in Kathmandu.