Devastating floods impact beekeeping in Imphal East district
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, June 15 2024:
Recent floods in Imphal East district caused significant hardship to the local beekeeping communities, with an estimated 200 beehives destroyed and numerous bee colonies lost.
All Manipur Beekeepers' Association (AMBA), along with Th Joysana Meetei, a lifetime corporate member of All India National Bee Board (NBB), reportedly conducted an extensive inspection of the affected areas on June 14 .
In a statement, AMBA informed that the inspection team visited the villages of Maiba Khul, Mongjam, and Koirengei, where they observed widespread devastation.
Floodwaters had swept away many beehives, leaving scenes of ruin and numerous dead bees in their wake.
The team, comprising AMBA vice-president Nagngom Khelemba, treasurer W Dinamani, secretary Dr Atom Sunil, and assistant secretary H Folo noted severe impact of the floods on the local beekeeping industry.
Dinamani expressed AMBA's commitment to assist the affected beekeepers, stating, "We will do our utmost to provide assistance to the beekeepers of Manipur during this challenging time" .
Khelemba described the situation as "quite unfortunate," highlighting the significant hardships faced by the beekeeping community.
Dr Atom Sunil underscored the broader environmental impact, noting, "The recent floods in Imphal valley, particularly in Imphal East district, have had a detrimental effect on bee populations.
Flooding leads to the inundation of nest-cells and mould growth, which threaten the brood of soil-nesting bees.
This reduction in bee numbers can have far-reaching consequences, as bees are essential for pollination, which is vital for biodiversity and agriculture.
The loss of bees can result in decreased crop yields and a potential loss of biodiversity, affecting food security and ecosystems" .
Th Joysana emphasised the severity of the situation, stating, "The water level was so high that there was no time to rescue the bees" .
He highlighted the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect bee populations and their habitats to mitigate these impacts.
AMBA then called upon the local authorities and the community to join efforts in supporting the recovery and resilience of beekeepers and safeguarding the essential role bees play in the environment and agriculture.