The Women for Bees project in India's Western Ghats, launched by UNESCO in partnership with the Keystone Foundation, empowers Indigenous women through managed beekeeping with the native Asian honey bee. This initiative provides a safer and more predictable alternative to traditional wild honey hunting, leading to immediate economic impacts such as financial independence and improved livelihoods for participants. Studies have shown that pollination by Asian honey bees can enhance crop yields, while ecological benefits like improved flowering in surrounding fruit farms have been observed. The project has fostered community support and knowledge sharing among participants, with plans to expand to other biosphere reserves in the future.
Tag: Western Ghats
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What We’re Reading: Lessons From the ‘Grandmother Cacao’
In India's Western Ghats, a 65-year-old cacao tree is thriving thanks to successful agroforestry and "bio-control" techniques developed by a microbiologist couple. By using beneficial microbes to prevent the growth of pathogens, the farm is able to maintain soil health and produce organic cocoa. With increasing heat and rainfall threatening cacao trees with fungal and bacterial infestations, these innovative solutions are crucial for sustainable agriculture. This success story highlights the importance of climate-resilient practices in the face of changing environmental conditions.
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/what-were-reading-lessons-from-grandmother-cacao/