Future of agriculture in Peru depends on the care of bees: these are the reasons that confirm it

Jhonny Rojas, vice president of the National Confederation of Beekeepers of Peru (CONAPI Peru), explains that it is necessary for the State and private industry to invest to guarantee the pollination of bees. This would ensure the quantity as well as the quality of agricultural production.
Johnny Rojas, vice president of the National Confederation of Beekeepers of Peru (CONAPI Peru), has pointed out that the quality of agriculture in Peru is closely linked to sustainable beekeeping, that is, obtaining honey through bees and other products. through the rational management of natural resources.
This is how Rojas explained it during the Agrofest 2024, an event that seeks to increase the competitiveness of the agricultural sector every year, highlighting the importance of pollination to increase both the quantity and quality of agricultural production.

A farmer grows cocoa in a field school, on April 19, 2024 in the Pajarillo district, located in the Amazon department of San Martín (Peru). EFE/ Paolo Aguilar
Among them, key agricultural products such as avocados and blueberries, which have allowed Peru to position itself as a leading producer and exporter, surpassing countries like Chile. “The record figure in the production of these star products It will not be sustainable without professional beekeeping”Rojas stated. But why?
These are the reasons that confirm it
The leader of CONAPI Peru highlighted that pollination not only increases crop yield, but also improves the quality of the final product in terms of flavor, decisive factors for exporting to demanding markets. “The professionalization of beekeepers and the implementation of new technologies is crucial for the future of the Peruvian agricultural sector,” he said.
Furthermore, Rojas pointed out that the progress of beekeeping has been driven by the self-taught efforts of its workers. However, he indicates, it is necessary that the State and private industry invest in training programs and advanced technology, such as artificial intelligence, to achieve precision pollination.

File photograph dated January 17, 2024, of a wild bee pollinating a flower in Zapopan (Mexico). EFE/Carlos Zepeda/ARCHIVE
Why would it be a key point in the agricultural economy?
On the other hand, Ze'ev Barylka, representative of BeeHero, an Israeli company founded in 2017 that works to produce a global bee monitoring system, which also participated in Agrofest 2024, indicates that pollination is essential for agricultural performance and that without it it is not possible to maintain growth in agricultural economies exporters like Peru.
This is because, according to the specialist, advanced technology allows improving the efficiency of pollination and the health of the hives, which has a positive impact on agricultural productivity.
For this reason, both Rojas and Barylka urge the authorities to consider the beekeeping as an integral part of agriculture, focusing on bee habitat conservation, pesticide control and promoting sustainable solutions.

For Peru, bees are the most efficient pollinators of avocado trees and blueberries. Photo: Andina
“Likewise, protected natural areas and nature reserves should be encouraged, ensure the development of bee colonies, encourage education and awareness programs, promote scientific research by working directly with beekeepers, among other actions,” he added.
Bees, allies in the fight against the climate crisis
In this framework, specialists remind the population that bees are considered as allies in the fight against the climate crisis. This is because, in addition to being recognized for their ability to pollinate, produce honey and other vital activities, their role in mitigating the climate crisis is vital, since they contribute to the direct conservation of crucial ecosystems to ensure biological diversity, such as grasslands.
These, specifically, depend largely on pollination carried out by bees, which produce seeds of various flowering plants, whose roots can penetrate deep into the soil, helping to store carbon. more effectively than forests.