The indiscriminate use of agrochemicals to control pests in field crops is causing losses to the beekeeping sector due to the massive death of bees. A recent study confirmed the use of a particular type of pesticide.
In mid-April, staff from the Colegio de la Frontera Sur (Ecosur) of Chiapas and members of the Mayan Alliance for the Bees of the Yucatan Peninsula arrived in Tizimín to discuss the issue.
The specialists discussed the risks and effects on bees due to the indiscriminate use of pesticides, insecticides, and pesticides in the region.
At that meeting, beekeepers reported the poisoning and death of their bees. Some farmers received counseling about the measures to take and the relevant complaints to make.
A producer from the Dzonot Aké community had losses in 55 hives and said that a company dedicated to growing corn may have applied agrochemicals that probably caused the death of its bees.
The Local Livestock Association Specialized in Beekeeping and Meliponiculture Agleam of Tizimín learned that studies will begin to determine the cause of death of the bees.
After four months, Alianza Maya Por las Abejas released a statement on its social media about said investigations.
In their research, the experts give details of the economic losses, the number of beekeepers affected, and what type of agrochemicals.
As detailed by the Ecosur staff, the Alliance and the beekeepers union carried out the census of damages in 38 apiaries of 22 beekeepers near ranches owned by a well-known company (Enerall), which cultivates corn.
The studies showed that the cause of death of the bees for poisoning was due to the use of the insecticide Fipronil. According to a balance sheet and census, the losses amounted to 4 million pesos.
According to the statement, they filed complaints with the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) and the National Service for Health, Safety and Agri-Food Quality (Senasica). However, it is not just a particular case committed by a private company.
The same beekeeping leaders point out that the atypical rainy season they are going through is causing the outbreak of worms that are destroying all the cornfields in the region. Therefore, producers, when defending their crops, use herbicides and pesticides to control them.
With information from Alianza Maya Por las Abejas
TYT Newsroom
