Sustainable initiative to generate income through the creation of stingless bees is carried out with families in the communities of Espírito Santo
Families from the communities of Regência, Povoação, Areal and Entre Rios, in Linhares, Espírito Santo, are receiving beehives for raising stingless bees. The action is part of the Meliponiculture Project in Foz do Rio Doce, a sustainable initiative aimed at the production of honey and derivatives, preservation of species and conservation of biodiversity. The project has the financial support of the Renova Foundation, which will invest more than R$1.7 million.
To ensure the implementation of activities, a consulting firm was hired to promote training and monitor the 64 families enrolled. The receipt of the hives is conditioned to the participation in the basic training of Meliponiculture, started in April. In addition to theoretical foundations of stingless bee ecology, the course offers the practical part of bee management, care with handling, feeding and multiplication of hives.
So far, 43 families have completed the training and are entitled to receive up to ten beehives to start income-generating activities. The forecast is that they will be delivered by June, after the completion of the training.
The analyst of Socioeconomic Programs at the Renova Foundation, Kadio Aristide, explains that, in addition to selling honey, families can also earn income through the sale of by-products. “Wax is widely used for medicinal and aesthetic purposes. Currently, dehydrated pollen, rich in nutrients, has also been sold as a nutritional supplement”, says Aristide.
Stingless bees
The choice of stingless bees, unlike beekeeping, took into account the vocation of the region, the low cost of investment in the construction of a meliponary (collection of bee hives), the safety of producers and the ease of handling. Production can also be carried out in urban areas, and the honey is considered of excellent quality and high cost-benefit in the market.
About 90% of Atlantic Forest tree species depend on stingless bees to reproduce, as they are responsible for pollination. The honey of stingless bees is also being valued by gastronomy, as it has more acidity and nuances of aromas and flavor. In a scenario of rescuing and valuing Brazilian ingredients, products from native bees were adopted by great chefs and, gradually, have been gaining ground in Brazilian homes.