Conserving insects can address food security – Entomologists

A team of entomologists and scientists working on the Global Pollination Project (GPP) - Ghana have advised crop farmers to conserve insects that help in plant reproduction (pollination) to aid in increase in crop yield

The team which is made up of lecturers from the department of entomology and wildlife at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) and scientists from the Ghana Atomic Energy and the University of Ghana, is advocating for the conservation of pollinators as natural means to address food security issues that is gradually closing up on the world

The GPP which started in 2009 is envisioned to end this year with training of media practitioners who will in turn educate farmers on how to invite and manage these insects when they approach their farms

Speaking to ritefmonline, Dr. Rofela Combey of the department of Entomology and Wildlife, UCC said the project is focusing on bees which are the most important pollinators as they work on about 63 percent of the worlds cultivated crops

She said there seven known major bee families and approximately 30,000 species of the insects that has been identified and many more yet to be identified

Dr. Combey noted that bees have a mutual relationship with the crops they pollinate as they collect pollen grains as (protein food source), nectar (for energy), Waxes, Resins and sometimes plant provide homes for the bees through the process of pollination of which mankind also benefit profitably from

She advised farmers not to be quick in applying pesticides immediately they see insects on their crops but rather study the insects as to what they might be doing on those crops at the time adding that some insects could be predators of some crop pests and others pollinators

She said it would be advisable if farmers would spray their crops during the late mornings and seek advice from extension officers and experts on when, how and what to apply pesticides on and that allowing these insects on the farms would increase crop yield and ensure proper fruit formation