By Dr. Muhammad Imran
In the scenic region of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), where fruit orchards and natural landscapes thrive, a hidden crisis is affecting both biodiversity and the livelihoods of those who live in the countryside: the alarming loss of honeybee, especially the native species Apis cerana. For years, people in the area have kept bees in the traditional way. Raising honeybees is an important way for rural families to make money and help to pollinate plants. But the extensive and sometimes unregulated use of insecticides, especially during the flowering season, is putting these important pollinators at risk.
Honeybees are very important for pollinating a lot of the crops grown in AJK, like apples, pears, apricots, and a lot of vegetables. Without them, there would be a huge decline in fruit production, which would affect the economy and the food supply in the area. Apis cerana is a type of bee that is extensively kept by local beekeepers. It is very well suited to the alpine environment of AJK. These bees not only pollinate plants well, but they also produce honey that many families sell to supplement their income. This income is quite important for certain families, especially those who live in distant places, to cover their daily needs.
Unfortunately, this useful practice is under danger. A lot of bee mortality and colony collapse are happening because people are using too many chemical pesticides, especially while crops are blossoming and bees are most active. A lot of farmers spray pesticides during the day when bees are feeding, not knowing how bad these chemicals are for pollinators. Pollen and nectar can hold on to toxic chemicals for a long time, which might hurt bees’ health and ability to reproduce. Sometimes, whole colonies die off within days of using pesticides in surrounding fields.
This condition shows that there is a big lack of knowledge and education. Most farmers in the area haven’t been trained in integrated pest management and still use a lot of chemicals to get rid of pests. There isn’t much oversight or regulation of how pesticides are used. Because of this, both wild and managed pollinators are dying off, which is bad for biodiversity and the future of farming in the area.
Awareness initiatives are badly needed to deal with this problem. Farmers need to learn how to handle pesticides safely and responsibly, especially not spraying them when flowers are blooming. Using different ways to control pests and encouraging bee-friendly farming can make a big difference in how much harm pollinators do. Beekeepers also need help keeping an eye on and protecting their hives, and local laws need to be put in place to make sure that pesticides are used more carefully.
It is not only bad for the environment to protect Apis cerana and other native pollinators; it is also bad for the economy and society. Many rural families depend on beekeeping for a living, and losing it would have a big impact on communities. Farmers, researchers, local governments, and NGOs will all need to work together to protect honeybee numbers in AJK.
Before it’s too late, we need to do something. Honeybees are important for the health of our ecosystems and the well-being of our people. We defend our future by protecting the bees.
