Assessment of the perception of farmers in Sumé (PB) regarding beekeeping

Abstract

Beekeeping is the breeding of bees for the purpose of producing primarily honey and, secondarily, pollen, propolis, and royal jelly. Bees have been domesticated by humans for a long time, as they reproduce under established conditions, particularly in the context of beekeeping. Currently, there is growing interest in honey bees worldwide, probably due to their nutritional, economic, and environmental importance. Bee products are natural and valued worldwide for their many benefits. Beekeeping offers immense potential to provide employment and add value and income to the rural population in semi-arid regions, particularly in the context of Cariri, Paraíba, whose flora provides good areas for beekeeping. The unique feature of beekeeping is that the capital investment required is small and, unlike many other industries, it does not require raw materials in the usual sense, as nature provides them in the form of nectar and pollen. Thus, beekeeping is a very fascinating occupation and can be practiced equally by men, women, young people, children, and the elderly. The investment required is low and the economic returns are comparatively significant, improving the economic condition of farmers, restricting the migration of rural youth to urban areas, and helping sustainable rural development. Understanding the knowledge of the activity through the eyes of farmers is essential, as these perception studies provide valuable information on how these subjects perceive and interpret certain activities or situations. Perception studies focused on farmers help to understand their needs, challenges, and potential solutions for agriculture, especially family farming, and for local development, which can be crucial in several areas, helping in decision-making and the implementation of successful actions. The objective of this study was to assess, through a perception survey, the level of knowledge of family farmers who sell at farmers' markets about the interaction between agricultural and beekeeping practices. A total of 25 farmers, 12 members of the agroecological market and 13 of the conventional market, were interviewed. The results revealed that 50% of agroecological farmers and 46% of conventional farmers claimed to have moderate knowledge about various aspects of beekeeping, including honey production and bee flora, although 89% of the total stated that they do not work or have never worked with bees. Regarding how to start an apiary, the items mentioned by agroecological and conventional farmers, respectively, were: boxes and bees (50%, 37%), suitable environment and flora (13% and 5%), equipment (6%, 16%), financial resources (1%, 12%), and training (6%, 5%). When asked about participating in training courses to implement the activity, only 58% expressed interest. The rest did not know or did not want to answer. Considering that beekeeping not only increases crop productivity through pollination but also offers employment opportunities, playing a crucial role in diversifying and increasing the income of small farmers and rural youth, providing opportunities for re-planting with honey plants to optimize the value of native species and soil conservation in the region and potentially strengthen the local economy, it is clear that this is an essential strategy for sustainable rural development. However, despite all these benefits, problems such as technical knowledge continue to exist. Thus, government support for beekeeping, technical training, and community initiatives can help overcome existing challenges. Beekeeping represents a sustainable, low-investment enterprise that can play a significant role in rural economic development and environmental sustainability worldwide, and in particular in Cariri, Paraíba, being closely linked to the Sustainable Development Goals. Sustainable Development Goals, therefore, the relevance of the study's results is emphasized for the urgency of expanding technical guidance and strengthening extension activities with family farmers, in order to increase the potential of beekeeping, improving the lives of small farmers and mitigating the limitations of traditional agriculture.