Bumblebees Nurtured by Iranian Company Facilitate Pollinating Crops

Many flowers require insects such as bumblebees to transfer the pollen. Bumblebees are known to be very efficient pollinators.

They transfer large amounts of pollen with every flower visit due to their size and very densely haired bodies.

The company nurtures pollinator bees and sells them to farmers and gardeners, Alireza Monfared, the managing director of the company, told ANA.

Zist Garde Afshan Dena operates in the field of nurturing all kinds of pollinating bees.

The company is implementing a national project under the supervision of the vice presidency for science and technology for nurturing pollinating bees.

There are more than 500,000 hectares of apple and almond orchards as well as 1,400 hectares of greenhouses (tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants) across the country, which require pollinating bees, Monfared added.

The development of bee colonies promises a very good future for prosperity in various scientific, research, and business fields, especially in greenhouses and gardens, he stressed.

“Despite all the problems, the project went ahead and today we stand where we are the only company producing bumblebees in Iran and the Middle East.”

In the near future, the company will start selling bee hives and providing expert services and exports to neighboring countries, Monfared noted.

Five beehives of velvet bees are needed for each hectare of a greenhouse, and for each hectare of a garden, two nests of bees are needed.

“We have taken into account 15 percent of the country's greenhouses and 5 percent of the country's gardens as buyers.”

4155/g