- Livestock PS says nearly 40 per cent of bees and butterflies face extinction.
- This is mainly due to land degradation, pesticide use, new diseases, pests and climate change.
Image: AGATHA NGOTHO
The United Nations has called on youth to embrace traditional and high-tech beekeeping to protect pollinators.
The United Nations has urged young people to delve into the world of bees and pollinators, emphasising both traditional and high-tech beekeeping.
This initiative, highlighted by the Food and Agriculture Organisation, aims to safeguard the critical role bees play in agriculture, ecological balance, and biodiversity.
Assistant FAO Kenya Representative-Programmes Hamisi Williams stressed the alarming decline of the vital insects.
“Today bees, pollinators, and many other insects are declining in numbers largely due to the combined effects of climate change, intensive agriculture, pesticide use, biodiversity loss, and pollution,” he said.
He said FAO collaborates with national and county governments, NGOs, and community organisations to protect bees and other pollinators by enhancing the capacity of technical staff and local communities in beekeeping systems.
This empowerment encourages sustainable management of forests and natural environments.
Williams said pollinators, including bees, birds, bats, and other insects, are crucial for global agricultural production, with 75 per cent of food crops and 90 per cent of wild flowering plant species depending on them.
Livestock PS Jonathan Mueke said nearly 40 per cent of bees and butterflies face extinction due to factors like land degradation, pesticide use, new diseases, pests, and climate change.
Mueke said there is need to conserve bees and other pollinators within the context of technological advancements in agriculture to enhance productivity.
“It is therefore absolutely necessary that conservation of bees and other pollinators which are part of our natural heritage, is brought into sharp focus within the context of technology uptake in agriculture for enhanced productivity,” he said.
Pollination is a fundamental pillar for food production, contributing significantly to the agriculture sector and improving global economic and dietary outcomes.
FAO estimates that pollinators impact 75 per cent of crops producing fruits and seeds for human consumption.
Studies by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and FAO reveal a significant decrease in bee populations over the past decade.
The apiculture sector contributes approximately Sh17 billion annually to agricultural GDP.
Mueke called for increased investment in this vital industry to boost production and ensure high-quality standards for local and international markets.
“Success in this sub-sector will depend to a large extent, on the ability of all stakeholders to work in a more harmonious manner to boost production as well as achieve and maintain high quality standards that meet local and international market requirements,” he added.
This year's World Bee Day, themed "Bee Engaged with Youth," aimed to celebrate the essential work of bees and other pollinators while raising awareness of their critical role.
Hamisi encouraged the next generation of beekeepers to "create a buzz of their own" and support sustainable agricultural practices.
By embracing beekeeping, young people can play a crucial role in preserving pollinators and ensuring a sustainable future for global agriculture.