PADILHA, V. J. C.; http://lattes.cnpq.br/6281749385816152; PADILHA, Valdir José Costa.
Abstract:
Beekeeping and creation of native bees play essential environmental services for maintaining
the balance of the ecosystem of Caatinga. The study aimed to analyze the beekeeping and
melipona activity as social, economic and environmental alternative for the sustainable
development of the Cariri Ocidental paraibano region, being conducted in the cities of Prata
(07º45'46.4 "037º07'16.0", 698 m), Ouro Velho (07º38'53.9 "037º09'24.2", 630 m), São José
dos Cordeiros (07º29'24.1 "036º50'56.3", 655 m) and Serra Branca (07º30'20.1 "036º50'15.0",
664 m) from the exploratory visits and application of semi-structured questionnaires, the
research approach enabled the apimeliponicultura in social environmental, economic and
technical aspects. In the Cariri Ocidental paraibano the beekeeping and creative of native bees
has been developed as an alternative income generating activity of farming families, in the
meantime the work found the limitations of productive activity which is appreciably affected
by cyclical periods of drought in the semiarid region The results indicate the need for use of
management alternatives for mitigating these impacts, and building a strategic plan that
addresses the factors of production, processing and marketing to strengthen the supply chain.
Therefore, it is concluded that beekeeping and creation of stingless bees are vectors that
connect the pillars of sustainability, providing family farmers to keep workers in the field and
ensuring the maintenance of genetic diversity of plants of Caatinga for environmental services
performed.
