Análise da percepção dos produtores de abelhas melíferas e melíponas em três municípios do Cariri Paraibano.

Abstract

Bees are essential to maintain the proper functioning of ecosystems, being responsible for the highest number of pollination of plants, thus guaranteeing the diversity of plant species in agricultural and natural systems. Despite their importance, some bees are threatened with extinction due to anthropic actions, which at a rapid speed have exploited natural resources. In this sense, the objective of this work was to analyze the perception of honey bee and meliponous bee producers in the Cariri region of Paraíba, thus promoting the maintenance of biodiversity and food production. The research was carried out in the municipality of São José dos Cordeiros-PB, in the region of the Paraiba cariri, with producers of honey and meliponous bees, members of the Association of Beekeepers and Meliponicultors of São José dos Cordeiros - AAME-SJC, in the period of 10 October to 17 December 2022. Twenty associated producers participated in the survey, in order to obtain a better understanding of the subject through visits to their workspaces. Thus, it can be verified with the results obtained, that the participation of women is smaller in relation to the number of men; that producers maintain a preference to work only with bees of the genus Apis due to the speed of production. In relation to the difficulties in the beekeeping activity, that there is a need to acquire qualified materials. In addition, 75% of producers sell only honey and 25% sell wax, propolis and honeycomb. Thus, it is observed that beekeeping activity has great socioeconomic importance for the Cariri region of Paraíba, since it emerges as a promising source of income contributing to the conservation of native flora, in addition to being considered a production system for agriculture familiar.