In the simplest terms, pollination is the process by which flowering plants reproduce. To produce seeds, a plant must first be fertilised with pollen and this process takes place within flowers.
The process of pollen transfer from one flower to another, of the same species, is aided by wind, in plants such as wheat and rice, and is aided by animals in plants such as coffee and watermelon. Of all the animals which help in this process of pollen transfer, bees are amongst the most important. When we say bees – we mean honey bees, stingless bees, bumble bees and solitary bees.
In terms of economic value the services provided by insect pollinators are worth an estimated $235 billion to $577 billion (USD). Insects are crucial for the production of nutritious foods, including fruits, vegetables, and seeds, with over 75% of leading global food crops relying on them to some extent. In reality the true value of insect pollinators far exceeds this monetary value as they support both farmed and wild ecosystems and the fruits of pollinations feed wildlife as well as people. Ecosystems simply would not function without insect pollinators.
Yet insect pollinators are under threat from habitat loss, land degradation and pesticides. Farmers have a role to play in managing their land in ways to support insect pollinators. We have created an Insect Pollination Training Toolkit which can be used by extension agents to raise awareness and to train farmers about pollination. The Insect Pollination Training Toolkit has been created for the Ethiopian context, but is applicable more widely.
Pollination
Insect Pollination Training Toolkits
Bees for Development
Pollination
In the simplest terms, pollination is the process by which flowering plants reproduce. To produce seeds, a plant must first be fertilised with pollen and this process takes place within flowers.
The process of pollen transfer from one flower to another, of the same species, is aided by wind, in plants such as wheat and rice, and is aided by animals in plants such as coffee and watermelon. Of all the animals which help in this process of pollen transfer, bees are amongst the most important. When we say bees – we mean honey bees, stingless bees, bumble bees and solitary bees.
In terms of economic value the services provided by insect pollinators are worth an estimated $235 billion to $577 billion (USD). Insects are crucial for the production of nutritious foods, including fruits, vegetables, and seeds, with over 75% of leading global food crops relying on them to some extent. In reality the true value of insect pollinators far exceeds this monetary value as they support both farmed and wild ecosystems and the fruits of pollinations feed wildlife as well as people. Ecosystems simply would not function without insect pollinators.
Yet insect pollinators are under threat from habitat loss, land degradation and pesticides. Farmers have a role to play in managing their land in ways to support insect pollinators. We have created an Insect Pollination Training Toolkit which can be used by extension agents to raise awareness and to train farmers about pollination. The Insect Pollination Training Toolkit has been created for the Ethiopian context, but is applicable more widely.
Here you will find the Insect Pollination Training Toolkit [English]
Here you will find the Insect Pollination Training Toolkit [Amharic]