In the Yucatan Peninsula, beekeepers are on alert due to the massive death of bees in various communities.
This phenomenon has been attributed mainly to the indiscriminate use of agrochemicals and pesticides in the region, which has generated serious consequences for beekeeping activity and the environment as a whole.
Yucatecan beekeepers have expressed their concern and have directly pointed out private companies for the use of these chemicals, which, according to them, have been responsible for the loss of thousands of bee hives.
In a press conference, the beekeepers stated that in the Maya communities of the northeast and east of Tizimín alone, more than 600 hives were lost. However, there were many others that were not reported, resulting in losses of over 4 million pesos for the families living of this activity.
In the case of Campeche, the impact of more than 3,650 dead hives in two communities was reported due to the apparent use of a chemical that has already been banned by federal authorities.
“The insecticide that killed the bees was Fipronil. Cenacica already carried out studies and also said that Fipronil has been banned for years, and the government has not done anything to repopulate the hives or at least sanction or reprimand to those who used it,” accused Benjamín Yeh Acosta, a beekeeper from Campeche.
In addition to the economic impact, the mass death of bees puts food security and biodiversity at risk, given the fundamental role that these pollinators play in the reproduction of crops and the preservation of ecosystems.
In this situation, beekeepers have demanded that the authorities implement effective public policies protecting bees and their natural habitat.
“There is no public policy. We need public policies to protect and conserve the natural habitat spaces of pollinators, especially bees. That is what we are going to demand and we are demanding from the new authority,” accused Leydi Pech Martín, a member of the Maya Alliance for Bees (Alianza Maya Por las Abejas).
Peninsular beekeepers are sending a call on candidates for different elected positions to consider the situation of beekeeping activity and commit to establishing protection and conservation programs for these important pollinators.
TYT Newsroom