A wide variety of plants critical to human well-being and livelihoods require pollinators. In fact, three out of four crops across the globe producing fruits or seeds for human consumption depend, at least in part, on bees and other pollinators. However, today the survival of these tiny food heroes is increasingly under threat. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has had an undeniable impact on the agri-food sector, affecting the livelihoods of rural and urban communities around the world, including beekeepers and other actors of the apiculture value chains. For this reason, it is of utmost importance to strengthen the apiculture value chains in order to build resilient livelihoods, create new jobs and generate incomes for small-hold farmers.
For centuries bees, among the hardest working creatures on the planet, have benefited people, plants, and the environment. By carrying pollen from one flower to another, bees and other pollinators enable the production of various and quality fresh fruits, nuts and seeds, ultimately contributing to food security and nutrition.
With the view to raising awareness of the importance of pollinators, the threats they face, and their contribution to sustainable development and food security, the UN in 2017 designated the 20th May as World Bee Day. The goal of this celebration is to strengthen measures aimed at protecting bees and other pollinators, which would significantly contribute to solving problems related to the global food supply and elimination of hunger in developing countries.
For this year’s World Bee Day, which falls under the theme “Bee engaged – Build Back Better for Bees”, FAO calls for global cooperation and solidarity to counter the threats posed by the COVID-19 pandemic to food security and agricultural livelihoods alongside prioritizing environmental regeneration and pollinator protection. World Bee Day also presents the opportunity to raise awareness on how everyone can make a difference to support, restore and enhance the role of pollinators.
Not only are bees and other pollinators essential for the healthy functioning of our agri-food systems, but they also contribute to the achievement of many of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – they maintain biodiversity and vibrant ecosystems, contribute to building resilient livelihoods, creating new jobs and generating income for smallholder farmers.
The Sultanate enjoys a long and storied tradition of beekeeping which dates back to the 17th century. Honey has traditionally been used by Omani families as a home remedy due to its nutritional value and potential health properties. Oman’s agro-climatic conditions make it very suitable for beekeeping. As result, the practice has been passed down for generations and continues to play an important role in maintaining Oman’s biodiversity and ecosystems. However, the Omani beekeeping sector is not without its challenges. While the interest in apiculture farming has increased, the majority of actors of the apiculture value chain need to enhance their technical or technological capacity to improve their productivity and quality of the production as well as their marketing skills.
As a result, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources (MAFWR) recognized the potential of incorporating Apiculture with small-scale farming systems and has been leading a number of programs and initiatives designed to elevate the standards of apiculture in Oman, and enhance the quality of honey and other honey added-value products. These efforts have resulted in increasing the number of beekeepers to 5520 in 2019 and an increase of 66% of honey production in less than a decade, contributing this to improved livelihoods in rural and remote areas. Given the importance of the apiculture value chain for achieving food security in Oman, the Ministry has joined forces with FAO, OMIFCO, and the Authority of Small and Medium Enterprises Development through an innovative public-private partnership aimed at strengthening the apiculture value chain in Oman and empowering rural beekeepers to access knowledge, technologies, and markets.
Protecting bees and pollinators is also part of FAO’s One Health approach to sustainable agriculture, which recognizes the links between human, animal, plant, and environmental health. Everyone has a role to play in Building Back Better for Bees, rethinking how we relate to nature, and promoting pollinators to encourage biodiversity, support agri-food systems, and build resilience.
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