Introduction

Immediately, when bees are mentioned, farmers must stop all activities at hand and pay attention. If it were not for the existence of the amazing insects (bees), the agricultural industry would collapse, and food insecurity would skyrocket. In this article, we will discuss the role of bees in sustainable agriculture and what it means to you as a farmer/ producer. 

Bees as natural security guards

In Africa, farmers experience a high theft rate of their agricultural produce, leading to revenue loss. Animals such as monkeys and baboons that are near mountainous areas feed on the farm produce, which also contributes to this loss. Crop Farmers strategically place beehives in the middle and at the sides of the yard to protect their farm from intruders. In the bee kingdom, if they sense an intruder in their hives by movements and unnatural scents, the worker bees will launch an attack and start stinging the intruder (animal or human) until they flee away from their hives. This has commonly been noticed in the African killer bees (Apis mellifera scutellata), which are very aggressive in nature. Hence, they act as a natural security for the farm.

Figure 1: A beehive fence protects a farm from elephants outside Tsavo National Park, Kenya. Copyright © Lucy King Save the Elephants.Bees as pollinators

Most agricultural crops belong to the phylum angiosperm, which means they produce flowers and seeds enclosed in their fruits. For example, a farmer cultivating maize (Zea mays) knows that the crop requires pollination to produce kernels. However, if environmental conditions are not favorable, such as insufficient wind, which is essential for maize pollination, this can result in lower yields. Pollination is the process by which an agent, such as wind or insects, transfers pollen to the female part of the plant, enabling fertilization. Refer to Figure 2 for illustrations of this phenomenon.

Bees play a major role in the pollination of agricultural crops. In this case, bees of different species, especially the bumble bees, will be attracted to the colorfulness of the petals (part of a flower) and the scent they emit. As a matter of fact, bees will be searching for nectar (a sweet liquid that flowers produce). In the process, they will unconsciously trap the pollen with their special structures, called pollen baskets, or with their hairy body. As they move from one part of the flower to another, they will drop some of the pollen in the female part of the plant. Hence, fertilization occurs. When a bee moves from one part of the plant to another, it results in self-pollination. If it flies to other flowers, it results in cross-pollination. 

In a study to research the efficiency of honeybees versus bumble bees in pollination, Tang et al. (2025) discovered that the native bumble bees (Bombus trifasciatus) are more efficient than honeybees (Apis mellifera) due to their morphological adaptations and foraging behaviors. Protecting bumble bees is crucial for sustainable pollination in the agricultural sector. In a nutshell, the higher the rate of pollination of crops, the higher the yield.

Figure 2: The picture was taken from Bee Pollination 101: How Do Bees Pollinate Step By Step? Illustrating pollination by a bumble bee ( big in size) and a honey bee (small in size).

Reducing the need for chemical inputs

Bees increase the biodiversity in the farms through the pollination of wild plants. Wild plants and flowers emit scents that attract insects like ladybugs, which help to lower the population of pests such as aphids that attack cabbages. These can also pollinate trap crops, which are placed around a farmyard as a hedge for the pests that invade main crops, so they pollinate such crops. Farmers will reduce the use of pesticides and instead focus on the biodiversity of crops that are supported by bees. This will not only save the environment but also lower the cost of production. Hoddle and Van Driesche (2008) asserted that ladybird beetles are a biological enemy that feeds on pests commonly known as aphids.

Conclusion

These are important in natural security guards, pollination agents, promoters of biodiversity, and enhancers of ecosystems. Their impact on agriculture cannot be unnoticed as they reduce crop theft and distractions, increase crop yield and quality, reduce pest populations and the need for pesticides, and improve the long-term sustainability of farms and their resilience. As a precaution, farmers need to take action to mitigate the risk of losing them. They may participate in beekeeping activities for the conservation of bees and limit the use of pesticides on their farm, as these can kill the bees. Sustainable farms need a farmer who incorporates bees into their farm. Table 1 outlines the summary of the role of bees in sustainable agriculture.