The cultivation of bumblebees, which have become widespread in regions close to the sea due to increasing yield and quality in greenhouse agriculture and reducing production costs, has also started in Van.

A project has been prepared to raise bumblebees, which are known as the "natural workers" of greenhouses and fertilise vegetables and fruits.

Within the scope of the project led by Director of Van Yüzüncü Yıl University Faculty of Agriculture Beekeeping Application and Research Centre and Faculty Member Dr. Cengiz Erkan, 100 queen bees of the "bombus terrestris" species were brought from Isparta University of Applied Sciences.

The number of bees, which are carefully maintained in a special climate room created in the centre, has been increased. So far, 500 colonies with 500 bees each have been obtained from bumblebees, which fertilise crops such as tomatoes, aubergines and peppers grown in greenhouses without the need for pesticides.

It is aimed to increase the yield and quality by using the bee colonies in greenhouses established in Van and neighbouring provinces after a while.

"It is a first in this region"

Dr. Erkan told that correspondent he has been working on bee breeding in the region for a long time and has been preparing projects for the development of bumble beekeeping in recent years.

Explaining that bumblebees, which are mostly used in greenhouse agriculture in the Mediterranean Region, can be used in greenhouses by taking into account the temperature values in the Eastern Anatolia Region, Erkan said, "The number of bumblebee families used in Türkiye has reached around 400 thousand. Unfortunately, many companies in the supply of these bees are of foreign origin. The cultivation of bumblebees in this region is a first. They are usually grown in regions close to sea level. We are breeding bumblebees at 1720 altitude and in a place where the outside temperature is 5-6 degrees below zero. Hopefully, we will offer it to the use of farmers in the future. Geothermal-based greenhouse activities are increasing day by day in the region. This will bring bumblebees to the agenda more. These bees will be needed more."

Stating that a bee colony consisting of approximately 500 worker bees is enough for a 500 square metre greenhouse, Erkan said that producers need bumblebees more and more day by day.

Stating that the cultivation of bumblebees is carried out in a controlled manner, Erkan said:

"We breed them in an environment of 27-28 degrees and 40-50 per cent humidity. We receive demand for their use in greenhouse farms in Van and neighbouring provinces. Vegetables and fruits need allogamy. In order to ensure fertilisation, pollen must be transported to the female organ. While this event, called pollination, is achieved with the help of bees, insects and wind, the number of these intermediaries decreases with the cooling of the weather. Especially those who do this work under cover need bumblebees. If bumblebees are not used, both the quality and efficiency of production will decrease. Very often, we see that bumblebees are not used in vegetables and fruits with bad flavour or taste. In short, bumblebees increase both quality and productivity in greenhouse cultivation."

Explaining that greenhouse cultivation is developing in the region and new greenhouses are being established, Erkan said, "Especially Van is a very suitable place for greenhouse cultivation. Recently, greenhouse cultivation has started to increase in Bitlis, Hakkari and Muş. In the coming years, greenhouse cultivation will become more popular with the incentives of the state. Geothermal greenhouses in Çaldıran district of Van are the best example of this. A significant part of the vegetable need of the region is met from these facilities."

"These bees are generally supplied from the provinces in the Mediterranean Region"

Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture Prof. Dr. Murat Tunçtürk said that they carried out scientific studies for the development of agriculture and animal husbandry in the region.

Stating that studies have been carried out in their faculties for the cultivation of bees used in the fertilisation of plants for a long time, Tunçtürk said, "These bees used in greenhouse cultivation are generally supplied from the provinces in the Mediterranean Region. Hopefully, the bees we grow here will be distributed to the producers in the neighbourhood in the future. We think that bumblebees will make an important contribution to the development of cultivation in greenhouses."

PhD student Anıl Akçay, who cares for the bees, said, "There are certain difficulties in raising bees. It is a job that requires constant monitoring. Their food source is pollen. In addition, we supplement syrup to replace nectar. We ensure the growth and development of colonies. We follow all stages meticulously."

Source: Anadolu Ajansı