Bee disease decimates stock in CT

American Foul Brood disease is killing the bee population and this is threatening the pollination of next season's crop.

24 Aug 2015

PollyDot via pixabay

"It is a crisis. There is no known cure for the brood. It is the Aids of honey bees," says Mike Miles, chairman of the SA Bee Industry Organisation.

With a third of the Cape's bees infected, there will not be enough hives to rent to farmers for the pollination of fruit, an industry worth R7-billion, said Miles. "If you do not have enough bees to pollinate, you suffer a bad crop. Our export market collapses and so does foreign revenue earnings" Miles said.

Among the vegetables and fruits needing bees for pollination are plums, pears, apples, melons, pumpkins, and butternut.

Beekeeper Brendan Cooper fears a pandemic without state intervention.

Riaan van Zyl of the department of agriculture, forestry and fisheries said the department was investigating and would draw up a plan.

Source: The Times

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