Estudo socioeconômico de abelha tiúba e meliponicultura em São Bento, Palmeirândia e Peri-Mirim, municípios da Baixada Maranhense

Abstract

Bocs plny n vory impoilnnt rolo in Iho onvlronmonl, so Ihoir prcsorvalion Is ver/ importnnt, ns Ihoy nro pollinating agonia thnt havo a promlnont rolo In maintaining tho biodlvorsity oí Iho ocosyslom. In addilion Io Ihoir clonr cnvironmonlal ímportance, we havo lhe possibility o( ralional creallon by rural producors, in lheir respeclive regions, in view of thoir productivo potenlial, íor honoy, pollon and propolis, products v/ilh greal markel valuo. In addilion lo promoting and slronglhening its socio-environmental funclion, beokeoping adds oconomic valuo lo producors, thus ensuring another source of income for Ihoir familios. Givon Ihis Information, meliponiculture is highlighted in lhe state of Maranhão, as its product has a much higher markel value than that of bees of the Genus Apis, in addilion to having a more attraclive form of management, since meliponine bees do not have stingers, and we have M elipona fasciculata as a highlight in the state, better known as the Tiúba bee. The present study aímed to collect data in order to make a brief analysis of socioeconomic information about the tiúba bee and meliponiculture in three municipalities in the Baixada Maranhense, São Bento, Palmeirândia and Peri-mirim. Data collection took place through interviews with beekeepers and application of a semi-structured questionnaire consisting of open and closed questions, and transformed into percentages for better visualization and debate. Among the results obtained we had that 89% of respondents said they had participated in some course related to the beekeeping area, 78% said they receive some type of governmental technical assistance, 22% said they did not receive any type of technical assistance, among the main difficulties found by beekeepers 42% highlight the commercialization of honey, 21% produce queens, 16% collect honey, 10% record and 10% flower. In view of the results of these municipalities, they demonstrate that the meliponiculture activity is valued by rural producers, considering that they are aware ofthe importance of both economic and environmental activity. In addition, they had a certain levei of access to technical knowledge, which encourages and drives the producer. However, even with these positive points, meliponiculture in these regions is still not self-sufficient, and some producers face barriers