In a land where rice paddies stretch to the horizon and mustard fields bloom golden each season, the gentle hum of bees is more than background music — it is a lifeline. These tiny pollinators, nature’s tireless workers, are the quiet force driving our harvests. Yet around the world, that hum is growing fainter. But in parts of Asia, a rare story of resilience is emerging. On this World Bee Day, the question grows more urgent: what more must we do to protect and promote healthy bee populations — not just globally, but here at home?
Bees: The Hidden Architects of Our Food Chain
Bees are far more than honey-makers; they are essential to the foundation of our food systems. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), nearly 75 percent of the world’s food crops depend — at least partially — on pollination. Among all pollinators, bees are the most efficient and productive, especially when it comes to high-value crops such as fruits, vegetables, oilseeds, and pulses. Without them, global nutrition and food diversity would face serious decline.
Their value isn’t just ecological — it’s economic. A 2016 report from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) estimated that pollinators contribute over $235–577 billion annually to global food production.
A Tale of Two Trends: Global Decline, Asian Stability
Encouragingly, while many regions, especially in North America and Europe, are witnessing steep declines in bee populations due to habitat loss, industrial farming, and chemical use, parts of Asia are showing signs of stability — or even growth.
China, the world’s largest honey producer, harvests over 400,000 metric tons of honey annually. This stability is attributed to a combination of factors: the country’s vast floral diversity, a strong tradition of rural beekeeping, and rising domestic demand for honey and bee-related products.
In Vietnam, community-based beekeeping initiatives are helping farmers diversify income while improving crop yields. India, too, has been investing in its apiculture sector, introducing mobile bee boxes and training programs to support pollination services across various crop zones.
Bangladesh: A Quiet Progress
Bangladesh, though still developing its apiculture sector, has seen meaningful progress. According to the Bangladesh Sugarcrop Research Institute, as of 2017, 1,551 registered beekeepers managed 42,911 bee boxes across the country. The highest concentration of bee activity has been recorded in mustard fields — a key winter crop that not only provides nectar for bees but also benefits significantly from pollination.
Beyond honey production, this structured beekeeping contributes directly to higher crop yields, improved food security, and rural livelihoods. Experts note that pollination can increase mustard seed production by up to 20–30 percent. Some farmers have begun renting bee boxes during flowering seasons to enhance their harvests.
A Fragile Future: The Pesticide Threat
Despite these hopeful signs, the path ahead remains precarious.
The most urgent threat comes from chemical pesticides, particularly neonicotinoids, which are widely used in Bangladeshi agriculture. These neurotoxic chemicals interfere with bees’ navigation, memory, and foraging behavior, and in many cases lead to colony collapse disorder. Because they are systemic — absorbed into a plant’s tissues — even trace amounts in pollen or nectar can harm pollinators.
In Bangladesh, pesticides are often applied without protective guidelines, proper training, or awareness of pollinator impact. For small-scale beekeepers, a single mistimed spray in nearby fields can mean the loss of an entire colony overnight — a devastating blow to both income and ecosystem health.
What Needs to Be Done?
Protecting pollinators will require urgent, coordinated action on multiple fronts:
- Stricter pesticide regulations: Authorities must enforce stronger controls on harmful chemicals, especially neonicotinoids, and promote the use of bee-safe alternatives.
- Education and training: Farmers and pesticide applicators need awareness programs on pollinator-friendly practices, including spraying times, buffer zones, and integrated pest management (IPM).
- Expansion of scientific beekeeping: Investment in apiculture training, research, and extension services can help farmers and beekeepers alike adopt more sustainable, productive methods.
- Floral diversity and habitat restoration: Bees need a consistent source of nectar and pollen. Planting wildflowers, hedgerows, and native species near fields can create healthier landscapes for pollinators.
- Incentivizing pollination services: Just as fertilizer and irrigation are subsidized, governments could support farmers who integrate managed pollination systems.
The Way Forward
The humble bee — often overlooked, often endangered — holds a key to our nutritional security, economic resilience, and ecological balance. As Bangladesh navigates a changing climate and increasing pressure on food systems, investing in pollinator protection is not just about saving bees — it’s about safeguarding the future.
On World Bee Day, the buzz should not only be about celebration — but about commitment. Because the hum beneath our harvests must not fall silent.
