Dialogue is possible: the importance of good communication between beekeepers and farmers

With the aim of building my own business and improving my quality of life, I started 22 years ago in the beekeeping business. Since that time, the importance of bees for the environment has been known to the population, however, few know the importance of these organisms for agriculture.

Pollination carried out by bees is extremely important for increasing the agricultural productivity of some crops. These crops are called dependent and benefit from pollination, and can have a reduction in production of 10% to 100% if they are not pollinated. Therefore, it is extremely important that the beekeeper knows the surrounding crops and formalizes his bee pasture, bringing benefits to both parties.

On the other hand, agricultural activity is also important for the production of honey and other bee products. This is due to the fact that bees need a wide diversity of plants to provide a food source, such as nectar, which contributes to colony growth and honey production.

Through good coexistence with the surrounding farmers, I can increase my honey production, in addition to producing propolis, pollen and providing pollination services, also contributing to agriculture. In this way, I built a win-win relationship with the surrounding farmers.

For good coexistence, it is necessary to have very close and assertive communication. And, yes, dialogue is possible, as both intend to achieve the same result: increased productivity in activities.

Today, with the partnership formed with farmers around my 250 hives, located close to the native forest and eucalyptus, cereals (soy, wheat, corn), orange trees and other fruits in the state of São Paulo, I am able to work in a safe, setting up apiaries in strategic points through a study of the terrain, evaluating not only the bee pasture, but also the percentage of native forest in the region. This and other strategies allow me to have a good production volume (above 40kg per year per hive), with the smallest number of boxes possible, this is because, the choice of the apiary location and the formalization of the bee pasture, through the Dialogue with farmers is one of the most influential factors on production.

Furthermore, proper management of these colonies is also extremely important, as they strengthen the bees and contribute not only to their health, but also to the organization and hygiene of the hives. It is worth remembering that, at certain times of the year, with scarce flowering, it is necessary to supplement the bees with food (protein and/or energy) and water supply. This practice is essential to avoid the loss of swarms, whether due to lack of food, cold or even the greater probability of contamination by chemical substances.

That said, it must be clear that, yes, it is possible for rural producers to use pesticides without harming bees! Whenever handled professionally and appropriately, these damages occur on almost non-existent scales. Furthermore, by having an extremely close relationship, the beekeeper knows when and which pesticides will be applied. Therefore, I recommend that beekeepers are aware of the pesticide application schedule, withdrawal period, harvest period, among other agricultural activities that can influence bees.

Knowledge of these activities is only possible through communication between those involved. An agreement on spray warnings must be reached between the parties, allowing risk mitigation measures to be taken.

Depending on the active ingredient used, I close the hives for 24 hours using inverted escape screens. However, I normally remove the hives from the site during the spraying period and transfer them to another area within the farm, minimizing costs and time for both parties.

Removal of hives must be done within a time frame to be agreed with the owner, but always prior to applications.

In this way, it constitutes a partnership of trust, improving the commercial relationship, adding value to the provision of services and bringing returns to both sides, increasing not only my productivity, but also the safety and well-being of my colonies, drastically reducing losses. of hives. In addition to increasing productivity and benefiting from a diverse bee pasture.

Therefore, I say that the key to successful beekeeping is dialogue and good relationships with surrounding farmers!

By Edson Xavier, beekeeper partner of Sindiveg