Stingless Bees Pollinate Coconuts and Mangos

The scenic Bulusan region in Luzon Province in the Philippines is an ecotourism hot spot. Rich in natural beauty, with lush rainforest and waterfalls, the area hosts a range of tourist sites, including water parks and camping resorts. 

One local attraction, nestled at the base of the Bulusan Volcano, stands out from the rest. The Balay Buhay sa Uma Bee Farm is more than a beautiful place to visit. According to Mongabay, the farm is an agri-tourism site, and its founder is empowering a community using native stingless bees to pollinate the coconuts grown there.

These stingless bees, Tetragonula biroi, known locally as kiwot, are native to the Philippines. While the ant-sized bees are small in stature, they are powerful. Because of their small size, they pollinate high-value crops like mango and coconut more effectively than regular honey bees. Kiwot can help increase crop yield by up to 80 percent.

The founder and chief beekeeper of Balay Buhay sa Uma Bee Farm is Luz-Gamba Catindig, according to Agriculture Monthly. Catindig, a nature lover and local, enrolled in a sustainable farming training program at the University of the Philippines, Los Banos. After failed attempts to pollinate her coconuts using imported bees, Catindig told Mongabay that experts from the university advised her to introduce the native bees to her farm. 

Catindig obtained her first kiwot colonies from local slash-and-burn farmers who are causing deforestation in the Philippines. Initially purchasing five colonies in 2004, she told Earth Journalism, the bees’ impact impressed Catindig so much, she then bought 1,000 colonies!

The bees have also been linked to quicker agricultural recovery after destructive typhoons, which strike the region each year. Catindig explained to Mongabay that after a typhoon, fewer premature coconuts fell down to the ground and intense pollination can continue right away, even after such a disaster.

Although kiwot bees do not produce as much honey as standard honey bees, they produce pollen and propolis, a common ingredient in beauty products. Balay Buhay maintains a gift shop featuring honey-based products, including propolis drops, which are crafted by local women.

Catindig’s original goal was to simply learn beekeeping, farm coconuts, and preserve a few acres of local land. She never imagined that her small project would grow to positively impact her community; besides the active bee hives on site and the gift shop, the grounds include accommodation for visitors and a cafe serving authentic regional dishes.

Many struggled financially before Balay Buhay opened, including Leony Gabiazo’s family, according to Earth Journalism. However, shortly after the farm was established, Gabiazo’s husband was hired as a full-time agricultural worker. Eventually, Gabiazo was also hired there. Empowered with a second income, the family’s financial situation greatly improved.

“Now we have a carabao [water buffalo], a motorcycle, a tricycle [motorized rickshaw] and a piggery because of the bonus we get from the farms,” Gabiazo told Earth Journalism. “My kids get to eat pure honey too,” she added, explaining that Catindig gives agricultural workers and their families access to the organic food produced at the farm.

Catindig’s original goal was to simply learn beekeeping, farm coconuts, and preserve a few acres of local land. She never imagined that her small project would grow to have 20 full time employees and positively impact her community; besides the active bee hives on site and the gift shop, the grounds include accommodation for visitors and a cafe serving authentic regional dishes.

A true community project, the Balay Buhay sa Uma Bee Farm is a fantastic example of the positive impact of natural  farming, for both the economy and the environment. It also demonstrates to the wider world that ecotourism is a viable option in economically developing countries.