Saturday, October 18, 2008 Farmer, beekeeper symbiotic partnership recommended
TO MAXIMIZE the use of available resources, farmers and beekeepers were told to adopt the concept of "mutualism" in their respective undertakings.
For farmers, particularly fruit growers, to get the most out of their crops, natural pollination, with the aid of honey bees would be the key, while beekeepers would not be bothered on where to feed the bees, said Patricio Ananayo, chief of the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
If the practice would only be recognized and implemented, farmers would not need chemicals to increase their yields, Ananayo said.
"There should be a good relationship between farmers and beekeepers to benefit them both," he said.
Natural pollination is said to increase farmers' crop yields by as much as 20 to 40 percent.
Beekeepers resort to supplemental feeding during the off-peak season of the flowering of plants, considered as food crisis by apiarists because of the absence of nectar, which serve as food for the bees.
Among the best nectar producers are wild sunflower, coffee, mango, citrus plants, and chayote.
Cut flowers plantations, Ananayo said, are not advisable forage areas for bees because these could not produce enough nectar for the bees.
Beekeepers claim the development of the apiculture industry is slow, despite its potential economic contributions, because of lack of support from the government.
Education institutions, like the Saint Louis University, are engaging in researches that would help develop the industry. (JC)
