Deforestation and pesticides cause honey production to fall in Tocantin

Tocantins produces about 70 tons of honey annually - Photo: Playback / TV Anhanguera

19 May

Deforestation and pesticide use make honey production dropped almost 50% in Tocantin

State come to produce more 120 tons of honey per year, but currently produces only 70 tons. Disappearance of bees worries beekeepers and meliponicultors.

Tocantins has produced more than 120 tons of honey per year, but production fell almost 50% in less than a decade. The heavy and unbalanced rain, besides deforestation that affects Tocantins are important factors. Besides, the use of pesticides in agriculture affects the population and the emergence of new bees.

According to the Federation of Beekeepers Tocantins, the state produces 70 tons of honey annually. The bee is currently responsible for most of the food that reaches the population's table.

“Today bees are responsible for 75% what we eat, than come to our table. This feeding depends on the manual service of the bees, which is to go and do pollination and guarantee the fruit, food, support on our table”, explain the honey farmer José Neuto.

José Lustosa Dourado has experience as a beekeeper for 32 years. He recently started betting on honey production and they maintain their livelihood through it. His apiary is on a property in Gurupi, in the south of the state.

The breeder comments that the disappearance of the insect has reduced the production of honey. “A lot of swarms have died, have a colleague who lost all. Every harvest there was 800 kilos. Today it averages 300 a 500 pounds if handled well. If it's wax change. Let it go, it's just 200. Have to dedicate”, commented.

Biologist Marco Marcolino, comments on the risk that the disappearance of bees brings to the nature and business of beekeepers and honey producers in Tocantins.

“There are fellow beekeepers who have been losing all their colonies. The bee also participates in the pollination of many species, either ornamental or fruitful, or even native. And they are dying across the country due to the intensive use of insecticides and herbicides in crops. It is a problem that will have a cost soon and not far from that moment”, commented.

despite the problems, José Neuto insists on production and dedicates himself to stingless bees, species that live in harmony with humans. One of them is the Tocantinese bee ‘marmalade’. The liter of honey produced by her can cost R $ 100. The liter of honey from the yellow uruçu can be sold for R $ 200 and that of the Jataí bee can reach R $ 300.

Source: G1 Tocantis

See link for video report:

https://g1.globo.com/to/tocantins/noticia/2019/04/21/desmatamento-e-uso-de-agrotoxicos-fazem-producao-de-mel-cair-quase-50percent-no-tocantins.ghtml

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Deforestation and pesticide use make honey production dropped almost 50% in Tocantin

Deforestation and pesticide use make honey production dropped almost 50% in Tocantin

State come to produce more 120 tons of honey per year, but currently produces only 70 tons. Disappearance of bees worries beekeepers and meliponicultors.

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