Status of pollinators and their role in maintaining agroecosystems Yousuf Shayista*,3, Bano Parveena3,1, Anjum Shahnaz2,3 3Department of Zoology; University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar191111 2Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar191111 1RTCPPPM, Division of Entomology, SKUAST-K Shalimar, Srinagar190025 *Email: shayistayousuf806@gmail.com (corresponding author)
ABSTRACT The survival of man on this planet depends solely on plants for one reason or the other. To enable crop production, as the phenomenon of pollination is a primary factor for fertilization. The diversity of global pollinators and pollination systems is very much striking. Most of the 25,000 to 30,000 species of bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) are effective pollinators, and together with moths, flies, wasps, beetles and butterflies, make up the majority of pollinating species. The world food security, food diversity, human nutrition and food prices all rely strongly on animal pollinators. This is particularly so in the case of horticultural crops. Horticultural crop diversification has now become an avenue to alleviate poverty amongst many cultivars around the world. The foodstuff for which pollinators are important are largely the fruits and vegetables that provide critical nutrients and minerals. In an increasingly industrialized world, these are disappearing from people’s diets. This is a concern, not just to the developed world, but also to the developing world, in a number of respects. Thus, awareness must be created around the globe related to declining pollinator diversity and decreasing agricultural production. Conservation of world pollinator diversity is the only solution to promising food stability for global population. Top Key words: Pollinators, Pollination, Agriculture, Horticulture, Food security, Pollination decline, Threats and economic value. Top |