A Review on: Role of Honey Bee Pollination in Improving Crop Productivity and Seed Quality in the Northern Ethiopia

Abstract

Insect pollinators are very important in determining the mate opportunity of plants and they are a key stone process in both human managed and natural terrestrial ecosystems. The biggest groups of insects for pollination are solitary bees, bumblebees and honeybees; this is because of their sufficient body hair and their behaviour patterns (Du Toit, 1988). Beekeeping is an important component of agriculture that promotes rural diversification and is an alternative source of income. The role of beekeeping is providing nutritional, economic and ecological security to rural communities at the household level. This is non-land-based activity of mixed farming and does not compete with other resource demanding. Currently the government gives higher attention to beekeeping practices and providing all the necessary components of beekeeping materials to the user is important to increase hive products. Intensive studies on biotic pollination would help in policy formulation and decision making concerning management of pollination for agricultural purposes, which is lacking. Although pollination improves crop yield, there is few study in Ethiopia that links its role to the economic benefits gained by farmers.

Keywords: honeybee, pollination, Ecological