20 May: World Bee Day

• 20 May 2022

To raise awareness of the importance of pollinators, the threats they face and their contribution to sustainable development, the UN designated 20 May as World Bee Day.

• Bees and other pollinators, such as butterflies, bats and hummingbirds, are increasingly under threat from human activities.
• Pollination is, however, a fundamental process for the survival of our ecosystems. Not only do pollinators contribute directly to food security, but they are key to conserving biodiversity.
• Nearly 90% of the world’s wild flowering plant species depend, entirely, or at least in part, on animal pollination, along with more than 75% of the world’s food crops and 35% of global agricultural land.
• This year’s theme for the World Bee Day is ‘Bee Engaged: Celebrating the diversity of bees and beekeeping systems’.

Observation in India

• This year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare (MoA&FW), Government of India celebrated World Bee Day at Tent City -II, Ekta Nagar, Narmada (Gujarat).
• National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM) of the Govt. of India is implemented through the National Bee Board for overall promotion of scientific beekeeping & entrepreneurship among small & marginal farmers, infrastructure development for postharvest management and support for research & development and to achieve the goal of “Sweet Revolution”.