A groundbreaking study by Nagaland University has revealed that stingless bees can significantly enhance crop productivity—improving yields by up to 29%—through natural pollination methods.
Conducted under the All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Honeybees & Pollinators, the research led by Dr. Avinash Chauhan demonstrated that native stingless bee species like Tetragonula iridipennis and Lepidotrigona arcifera not only improved fruit set in crops such as chilli and king chilli but also enhanced seed quality and viability.
Key Findings:
- King chilli (Capsicum chinense) fruit set increased from 21% to 29.46%.
- In common chilli (Capsicum annuum), healthy fruit formation rose by nearly 8%, while seed weight—a key factor for germination—jumped by over 60%.
- The research also included crops like cucumber, tomato, brinjal, watermelon, citrus, and dragon fruit.
“In areas where honeybee activity is limited, stingless bees can bridge the pollination gap,” said Dr. Chauhan. “Our findings show not only higher yields but also the potential for additional income through honey extraction.”
Why It Matters:
Stingless bees, abundant in India’s Northeast, South, and Eastern regions, are a safe, non-aggressive alternative to honeybees. Researchers established scientific hives from native forest colonies and introduced them into open fields and greenhouses, demonstrating success in both environments.
This method supports sustainable agriculture, improves food security, and promotes wild pollinator conservation, especially at a time when global bee populations are declining.
Dr. Chauhan emphasized the importance of preserving other native pollinators like Apis dorsata, Apis florea, halictid, and syrphid bees, all of which play crucial roles in maintaining ecosystem balance.
What’s Next?
The team plans to explore the pharmaceutical properties of stingless bee honey and expand trials to underutilized crops such as passion fruit and chow chow. Efforts are also underway to enhance beekeeping practices and promote community awareness about pollinator conservation.
This research marks a significant step toward eco-friendly farming solutions and offers new hope for farmers in pollination-challenged regions.
