Protect the bees

Last Friday, the world commemorated World Bee Day to spotlight the importance of bees and other pollinators.Pollinators are essential for a sustainable global food chain, and transfer pollen and seeds from one flower to the next, pollinating the plants to grow and bear crops.Cross-pollination helps about 30% of the world&#039;s crops and at least 90% of wild plants to thrive.Bees perform an indispensable task for the sustainability of agriculture. If bees do not pollinate plants, most plant life and crops will face extinction. About a third of the global food supply occurs when bees pollinate plants. Without bees, mankind will have very little to eat.In Namibia, the Beekeeping Association of Namibia and Women for Bees Namibia have hosted several awareness initiatives on bee necessity.Women and beesWomen For Bees Namibia was launched one year ago to protect all pollinators.Gretchen Burmeister said 90% of wild and social bees are responsible for pollination, but only social bees can be kept in hives. All pollinators can benefit from hives, as this practice protects and promotes honey bees.The organisation also focuses on research, training, youth empowerment, market and product development, and women empowerment."All the bees in a hive are sisters. Each with her own task. They work in the hive to build a unique structure for the next generation. When the swarm is strong and big enough, they leave one egg with a queen in the hive while the rest fly away to start a new hive.“This is our vision. We want to put strong, sustainable and good structures in place for the next generation of women beekeepers in the country,” she said.Those interested in bees or beekeeping are welcome to join the Beekeeping Association of Namibia."We recommend that people do thorough research and read about beekeeping, attend a course and get the necessary permits. We also recommend that people work with an established beekeeper and start small before becoming beekeepers. First get one or two hives and work with them for two seasons. Learn from someone who has been doing it for a long time. Farming with bees is not easy,” Burmeister said.- tanja@republikein.com.na

Protect the bees

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-07

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Protect the bees

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Namibian Sun 2025-03-07

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