Radar | May 25,2024
In the bustling fields of Ethiopia, bees hum quietly as they move from flower to flower. To most, they are simply creatures that make honey. However, the scientists at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) see these tiny pollinators as unseen workers powering the country’s economy. As a result, icipe, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, the Ministry of Agriculture, and Bees for Development Ethiopia, pledged to include Honeybees’ pollination into the national accounting system. The initiative is being implemented under the Mass Youth Employment in Apiculture ( MaYEA) program, creating dignified and fulfilling jobs for over 1,000,000 young people across the country in apiculture and the aligned value chain
Tadele Tefera (PhD), Country Head of the icipe Ethiopia Office, described pollination as the “invisible engine of our food systems,” noting that about 75 percent of global food crops depend partly on pollinators, while 35 percent of global crop production benefits directly from them. He noted that pollination is crucial for increasing crop yields, maintaining biodiversity, and improving the nutritional quality of the crops.
“Pollination should be recognized as natural capital that underpins agricultural economies,” Dr. Tadele, highlighting its global economic value, which is estimated at 235-577 billion dollars annually.
In Ethiopia, the economic contribution is also significant. Dr. Tadele estimated that pollination services generate approximately 544 million dollars annually, particularly benefiting crops such as coffee, pulses, and oilseeds. He added that pollination can increase crop yields by 20 to 70 percent while improving quality, seed formation, and shelf life.
Zewdu Ayalew(PhD), an economist specializing in innovation and impact assessment, reinforced these findings by framing pollination as a fundamental agricultural input, comparable to fertilizer but often overlooked in economic systems. He noted that about 71 pc of crops grown in the country rely on animal pollination.
According to Dr. Zewdu, the total economic value of pollination services in Ethiopia ranges from 500 million to 800 million dollars annually, with broader estimates reaching up to 2.5 billion dollars depending on agroecological suitability. He emphasized that pollination plays a critical role not only in enhancing crop production but also in reducing poverty, improving nutrition, and strengthening overall economic resilience.
Both experts underscored the strong link between pollination and nutrition. Pollinators support the production of nutrient-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, and oilseeds, which are essential sources of vitamins and minerals. Declines in pollinators, they warned, could lead to reduced productivity, dietary diversity, and increased malnutrition.
One of the research pieces of evidence presented by Dr. Zewdu showed that increasing the share of land under pollinator-dependent crops can significantly boost household incomes and reduce micronutrient deficiencies, including protein, iron, and vitamin A deficiencies.
The role of managed bees was also highlighted as a major economic driver. Dr. Zewdu noted that beekeeping not only generates income from honey and related products but also delivers wider agricultural benefits through pollination. Nationally, pollination-related contributions were estimated at around one billion dollars per year, about 2 pc of total GDP and 4.4 pc of agricultural GDP.
Experimental studies further indicate that the use of modern beehives can increase crop yields, particularly in coffee production, while significantly boosting farm profits. The broader social benefits of pollination, he added, far exceed the private income earned from honey production.
Dr. Tadele emphasized the broader environmental and economic significance of pollinators, underscoring their contributions to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem resilience, and habitat regeneration. He also highlighted the potential for youth employment in beekeeping enterprises and other pollination-based services that enhance crop production.
Programs like MOYESH and MaYEA demonstrate the potential for large-scale job creation, particularly for young people, engaging them in apiculture and an aligned value chain while simultaneously supporting pollination services and boosting crop productivity.
Despite these benefits, both experts warned that pollinators are under increasing threat from habitat loss, pesticide misuse, climate change, monocropping systems, and invasive species. These pressures pose risks to food security, ecosystem stability, and economic sustainability.
They called for urgent policy action, including pollinator-friendly agricultural practices, improved pesticide regulation, habitat conservation, and increased investment in apiculture value chains. Dr. Zewdu further emphasized the need to integrate pollination into national income accounting systems and policy frameworks, noting that it remains largely invisible in economic planning and investments.
Ethiopia has strong potential to lead in pollination-based economies due to its large honeybee population, rich biodiversity, and long-standing beekeeping traditions. However, realizing this potential will require coordinated policy support and investment.
Both Dr. Tadele and Dr. Zewdu stressed that investing in pollination is essential for strengthening food systems, boosting rural incomes, protecting ecosystems, and driving sustainable economic growth.
Agricultural experts, researchers, and government officials are calling for stronger recognition of pollination services in farming systems, warning that chemical misuse and lack of awareness are undermining one of the country’s most critical natural assets.
Ato Aziz Ayalew, Head of Animal and Fishery Development at the Ministry of Agriculture, said the increased and often uncoordinated use of agricultural chemicals has negatively affected pollinators, particularly bees.
According to Aziz, chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides have had a significant impact on bee populations, which are the primary pollinators. To address this, the ministry, in collaboration with the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology(icipe), has been piloting a community-managed pesticide use approach under the Mass Youth Employment in Apiculture (MaYEA) program, which trained farmers and youths on the proper use of chemicals and their environmental impacts.
“These efforts have already shown positive results in improving product quality and supporting the return of pollinators,” Aziz noted.
However, he warned that challenges remain, including the use of expired chemicals and repeated over-application, both of which continue to harm pollination and human health.
Highlighting the importance of bees, Aziz explained that a single beehive can contain up to 60,000 bees, with around 40,000 actively involved in pollination. A single bee can visit about 100 flowers in one trip and make up to 15 trips per day, pollinating approximately 1,500 flowers daily. “This shows the enormous potential of one beehive,” he said.
He added that most of the country’s crops depend on pollination and recommended placing three to five beehives per hectare to maximize productivity.
Aziz noted that bee pollination not only increases crop yields but also improves the nutritional quality of foods
Meanwhile, Bedaso Taye, a Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Expert at icipe, stressed the need to integrate pollination into national income accounting systems. He argued that the sector remains undervalued due to limited awareness and is often excluded from national income accounting.
“Pollination has a role that cannot be undermined,” Bedaso said, adding that the lack of recognition has led to insufficient investment, with resources often directed elsewhere.
Bedaso highlighted that the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, has made significant investments in beekeeping initiatives in Ethiopia over the past decade through three major programs, YESH, MOYESH, and MaYEA, with budgets of USD 10 million, USD 55 million, and USD 80 million, respectively, implemented from 2016 to the present. The primary objective of these projects was to create dignified and fulfilling jobs for young people, 70–80 percent of whom are young women and persons with disabilities. Through this investment, the programs have indirectly contributed to pollination services and enhanced crop productivity
Experts say that improving awareness, strengthening policy support, and increasing investment in pollination services will be essential to enhancing agricultural productivity, improving nutrition, and ensuring long-term sustainability in Ethiopia’s food systems.
Notes for Editors:
Established in 1970 and headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (www.icipe.org), is distinct, being the only research organisation in Africa working primarily on insects and other arthropods. icipe is also the sole institution that combines research and development activities across plant health, human health, animal health and environmental health. icipe generates world-class scientific knowledge and translates it into insect-based, nature-positive, One Health innovations that sustainably transform millions of livelihoods across Africa and beyond. Additionally, icipe nurtures Africa’s talent and leadership in insect-science through the Centre’s long-standing programmes in doctoral and postdoctoral training, advancement of research and innovation in applied sciences, engineering and technology, and the creation of a bioeconomy, in Africa. The Centre has a staff of about 500 international and national staff, operations in more than 40 countries in Africa, and over 300 partnerships with diverse organizations across the world. For additional information, visit: (www.icipe.org).
About the Mastercard Foundation: The Mastercard Foundation is a registered Canadian charity and one of the largest foundations in the world. It works with visionary organizations to advance education and financial inclusion to enable young people in Africa and Indigenous youth in Canada to access dignified and fulfilling work. Its Young Africa Works strategy aims to enable 30 million young people to access dignified and fulfilling work by 2030, while its EleV strategy will support 100,000 Indigenous youth in Canada to complete their education and transition to meaningful work aligned with their traditions, values, and aspirations. Established in 2006 through the generosity of Mastercard when it became a public company, the Foundation is an independent organization. Its policies, operations, and program decisions are determined by its Board of Directors and Leadership team. For more information on the Foundation, please visit: www.mastercardfdn.org
PUBLISHED ON
Mar 30,2026 [ VOL
26 , NO
1353]
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